<p dir="ltr">Sepidiini is a large and morphologically diverse tribe of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) in the subfamily Pimeliinae, containing ~1,000 species and subspecies. Despite the presence of many large and charismatic species and the cultural significance of some of its members, the toktokkie beetles, this tribe has been lacking revision at all taxonomic levels. To develop a framework for taxonomic revisionary work, in Chapter 1, I reconstructed a phylogeny of the tribe using targeted enrichment sequencing data. I also scored a comprehensive suite of diagnostic characters for the tribe to test in a phylogenetic context. Based on the results of the study, I proposed revising the subtribe Oxurina Koch, 1955, <b>sens. nov. </b>(now containing the genera <i>Oxura </i>Kirby, 1918, and <i>Miripronotum </i>Louw, 1979) and moving the genera <i>Decoriplus </i>Louw, 1979, <i>Pterostichula </i>Koch, 1952, <i>Stenethmus </i>Gebien, 1937b, and <i>Synhimba </i>Koch, 1952 to a new subtribe Stenethina <b>subtr. nov. </b>The tree topology also supports revising or synonymizing the genera <i>Dichtha </i>Haag Rutenberg, 1871, and <i>Amiantus </i>Fåhraeus, 1870,<i> </i>and revising the genus <i>Somaticus </i>Hope, 1840.</p><p dir="ltr">In Chapter 2, I performed a partial revision of the subtribe Hypomelina Koch 1955. A new genus <i>Bufoniopsis </i><b>gen. nov. </b>is erected containing one newly described species <i>Bufoniopsis hypnosis</i> <b>sp. nov. </b>The genus <i>Hypomelus </i>Solier, 1843, and all of its species are redescribed, and three new species are described: <i>Hypomelus johnprinei</i> <b>sp. nov</b>., <i>Hypomelus lorettalynnae</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, and <i>Hypomelus tomhalli</i> <b>sp. nov</b>. One species was moved from <i>Hypomelus </i>to <i>Triangulipenna</i><i> </i>Louw 1979<i> </i>and redescribed, <i>Triangulipenna vulipnus </i>(Haag Rutenberg, 1873)<i> </i><b>comb. nov. </b><i>Triangulipenna </i>was redescribed and three new species were described, <i>Triangulipenna tylerchildersi </i><b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>Triangulipenna dollypartonae</i> <b>sp. nov</b>., and <i>Triangulipenna ralphstanleyi</i> <b>sp. nov</b>. A revised key to the genera of Hypomelina is provided as well as keys to the species of <i>Hypomelus </i>and <i>Triangulipenna</i>.</p><p dir="ltr">Toktokkie beetles—members of the subtribe Molurina Solier, 1843—are known for their substrate tapping behavior which is a form of sexual communication in which beetles tap their abdomens on the ground to locate mates. Despite the fact that this behavior is well-known among people in southern Africa, very little research has been done on the topic. In Chapter 3, I document variation in tapping patterns across the subtribe Molurina. Three characters of tap trains were found to vary: length of tap trains, tapping rate, and tapping pattern. Ancestral state reconstruction was performed for each of the characters. Characters were found to be only partially linked to ancestry. Additionally, in any given locality sampled, no two species had the same “song”. This suggests that signal partitioning could be influencing species “songs”.</p>

Arguably one of the most prevalent issues in the field of Intellectual Property law, both international and domestic, is that of the emerging orphan works problem. Orphan works are any original literary, pictorial or graphic illustrations, and photographs whereas the prospective user cannot readily identify and/or locate the owner(s) of the copyrighted material. This poses a legal risk of liability upon the prospective user for copyright infringement. This thesis focuses on the legal topic of copyright with an emphasis on orphan works legislation. This study compared and contrasted the experiences in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia which have all enacted legislation to mitigate the issue of liability to prospective users of orphaned works, to the United States which has been reluctant to do the same. Each country has used its own legislative model to mitigate the liability of orphan works. This study sought out to analyze each model as well as compare the legal, political, and economic similarities of each country to test the viability of a particular model being successful in the United States.

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This paper basically tries to seek if there are any tendencies or possibilities that the power of colonizer still remains in the colonized country in terms of migration policy regarding migrant worker rights. In this paper, the author focuses on the policy of both Malaysia and the United Kingdom as a host country regarding the rights of migrant as the topic of the paper. In this paper the author uses comparative analysis by comparing the migration policy of Malaysia and the United Kingdom and focuses on the migrant worker rights to see if there are any possibilities or tendencies that Malaysia adopted the migration policy of the United Kingdom. In conclusion, the United Kingdom policy regarding the system and recruitment of migrant workers in order to limit the influx of migrant workers influenced Malaysia to adopt similar policy. But Malaysia has different implementation of policy regarding migrant worker rights comparing to the United Kingdom.

With its central role in the development of public-private partnership (PPP) contracts, procurement structure has a significant influence on the economic and policy success of privately-financed toll roads throughout their lifecycle. Following a review of PPP fundamentals and the public-policy differentiation between public interest and public objectives, several approaches for establishing the key contract strategies of toll pricing, concession length, and risk mitigation are explored. These underpinnings motivate the central research question: Given specific policy objectives for road pricing, how should public owners select PPP contract strategies which support these outcomes? Through qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), a recently-developed method for evaluating qualitative data quantitatively, patterns of PPP contract strategies which correspond to three common policy objectives--achieving a specific toll rate, managing congestion, and minimizing state subsidy/maximizing revenue--are identified through evaluation of 18 domestic and international projects. Three practical decision-making tools resulting from this work are illustrated through application to current PPP procurements: (1) a traffic-risk worksheet, which provides a rapid estimate of a toll-financed project's viability; (2) analytical QCA results, which offer guidance for structuring PPP contracts based on the desired pricing objectives; and (3) case-library comparisons, which enable drawing parallels between proposed procurements and established PPP projects. Additional insights explore the nature of risk in this study, which concludes with thoughts on the appropriate role of PPPs in infrastructure delivery. / Ph. D.

Since the 1950s, Capacity Development (CD) has been an important component of international development agendas. It established the widespread consensus that the capacity of individuals and organizations is critical to maintaining and enhancing the effectiveness of development projects and programs. A problem, however, is that the concept has been applied without due consideration to how it should be adapted to the local context, making it more of a symbolic gesture. The application of CD to urban infrastructure projects in India is one such example. Recognizing the shortage of urban infrastructure as one of the major impediments in India's economic growth and rapid urbanization, the Government of India (GOI) launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in December 2005 to provide substantial central financial assistance to cities for urban development over a period of seven years. The GOI expected the JNNURM to reform institutions and strengthen human resource capability related to many areas of project delivery. During its implementation, however, the JNNURM has been confronted by problems related to a lack of capacity. This research reviews the capacity challenges related to the JNNURM program and considers the broader implications for urban infrastructure development in other developing countries. This research begins with the question "How can CD be operationalized?" From this starting point, the research seeks to reveal the operational values of CD. Following a detailed literature review on CD, capacity factors that are applicable to the urban sector in India are identified and a CD framework is developed. Two research methods--case studies and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA)--are adopted to answer the primary research questions. By leveraging the strength of these two methods, this research advances our understanding of the relationship between capacity and development goals such as improving project performance. In the case studies, this research investigates the gaps between CD theory and practice through the lens of practitioner perceptions of CD. In addition, unlike traditional thinking on the linear relationship between capacity and project outcomes, the case studies reveal two-way causal relationships between capacity and project outcomes that form a spiral structure between the project delivery process and capacity factors. Better capacity can enhance project performance and lead to better outcomes, and project performance and outcomes also influence and reinforce capacity in the reverse direction. Moreover, through the fsQCA, this research identified causal relationships between capacity factors and outcomes and demonstrated that the capacity factors generate different outcomes through their interactions with other capacity factors. This finding contributes to our understanding of how capacity is interconnected with development goals. In summary, this research contributes to both CD theory and CD practice based on a comprehensive approach that not only considers CD at multiple levels (environmental, organizational/network, and individual/project), but also covers different CD subjects such as context, actors, dimensions, processes, and impacts. Through this comprehensive approach, a range of important findings are developed that can help researchers and practitioners operationalize the complex concept of CD. / Ph. D.

<p> This thesis describes, analyses and compares changes in the practice of human resource management (HRM), the roles of human resource departments (HRD) and management models in companies in Belgium, France (partially) and Chile by highlighting the similarities and differences. This is therefore an international comparative study. <p> The study is carried out using a contextualist analytical approach. <p> It answers the question: <b>what are the changes in HRM practice, the roles of HRD and the management models in social organisations in different contexts?</b> <p> It uses theoretical models (“typical ideals”) to analyse reality, while drawing from writers such as Mintzberg, Pichault and Nizet, Crozier, Crouch, Ulrich, Pettigrew. With regard to management, the study resorts to classical, instrumental and political models. As regards human resource management (HRM), it is based on objective, conventionalist and individualised models. In the human resource department (HRD), the models are those of administrative officer, operational expert and strategic partner. <p> The changes do not only result from a decision-making process dictated mechanically by contextual factors but more particularly from complex interaction and the balance of power among the actors concerned who use the contextual elements to advance their own interests. <p> Amongst the most relevant developments which bear <b>similar</b> characteristics, one can cite: <p> 1.- <b>a significant increase in the use of management methods specific to the instrumental or “Californian” model, </b> <p> 2.- <b>more extensive use of individual competencies in HRM practices</b>, and <p> 3.- <b>a significant reduction in the size of the HRD and, notably, in the profile of administrative officer of the HRD. </b> <p> As regards the <b>differences</b> found in the various contexts, one can highlight the fact that: <p> 1.- <b>In the Belgian and French models, the dominant managerial model remains political management.</b> On the other hand, <b>in the Chilean model, the Californian management model has become clearly dominant. </b> <p> 2.- <b>In Belgium and France, the dominant HRM practices are those of the conventionalist model. On the other hand, in Chile, the dominant HRM practices are those of the individualised model. </b> <p> 3.- The evolution of the roles of HRD, <b>in the Belgian model, has been practically non-existent or appeared later since the dominant role has remained that of the administrative officer (AO). On the other hand, in the Chilean model, the dominant role has become that of operational expert (OE). </b> The role of strategic partner (SP) which was so recommended and desired by managers has been long in developing. <p> The professional relations model and the political system constitute one of the most important factors which explains the differences noted. In Belgium, the neo-corporate and social-democrat model of professional relations at the national level (with a strong trade unionist movement) functions as a socio-economic regulatory mechanism reflecting the forces and the agreements between social partners. In Chile, there exists neither social dialogue nor equivalent institutionalisation at the national level; what prevails here is the confrontational Latin model (with a weak trade unionist movement). <p> Similarly, in Belgium social legislation is more comprehensive, regulating the market more and protecting people’s interests. Furthermore, it offers greater social security coverage via, in addition, vast public expenditure by the State. In Chile on the other hand, social legislation is more incomplete and more flexible, favouring rather discretionary decisions by managers and allowing the interplay of market forces to regulate the labour market. The right to strike, the allocation of unemployment benefits, the procedures for hiring and firing, etc. testify to these differences. <p> The characteristics of the “hybrid” Belgo-Latin culture based on the traditional negotiation model increasingly influence, for example, the development of a political management model and conventionalist HRM practices, team work or coaching, etc. On the other hand, the characteristics of Chilean Latin culture, where authoritarianism and paternalism are still very present, stimulate a more classical management model and objective HRM practices. <p> The differences between the developments are evident. The social aspects (social security, education, workers’ rights, etc.) are better guaranteed in the Belgian model and the productivist logic stronger and damaging in the Chilean model. As long as the actors involved remain as they are, with their ideological, political and cultural particularities and their specific strengths, these models will remain different. <p> <p> Cette thèse décrit, analyse et compare les changements des pratiques de la gestion des ressources humaines (GRH), les rôles des directions des ressources humaines (DRH) et les modèles de management, dans des entreprises situées en Belgique, en France (partiellement) et au Chili, en relevant les similitudes et les différences. Il s’agit donc d’une recherche internationale comparative. <p> La recherche s’inscrit dans une approche d’analyse contextualiste. <p> Elle répond à la question : <b>quels sont les changements des pratiques de GRH, des rôles des DRH et des modèles de management dans des organisations sociales situées dans des contextes différents ? </b> Elle utilise des modèles théoriques (des “ideaux types”) pour analyser la réalité, en s’inspirant des auteurs tels que Mintzberg, Pichault et Nizet, Crozier, Crouch, Ulrich, Pettigrew. Au niveau du management, l’étude a recourt aux modèles: classique, instrumental et politique. Au niveau de la gestion des ressources humaines (GRH), elle se base sur les modèles: objectivant, conventionnaliste et individualisant. Tandis qu’au niveau de la direction des ressources humaines (DRH), les modèles sont ceux d’agent administratif, d’expert opérationnel et de partenaire stratégique. <p> On constate que les changements ne résultent pas seulement d’un processus décisionnel dicté mécaniquement par les éléments du contexte mais surtout d’un jeu complexe d’interactions, d’un jeu de pouvoir des acteurs concernés, qui mobilisent les éléments du contexte pour faire prévaloir leurs intérêts. <p> Parmi les évolutions <b>similaires</b> les plus relevantes, on peut citer: <p> 1.- <b>l’accroissement important de l’usage des méthodes de management propres au modèle instrumental ou « californien » ; </b> <p> 2.- <b>l’utilisation plus extensive des pratiques de GRH individualisantes</b> et, <p> 3.- <b>la diminution importante de la taille de la DRH et, notamment, du profil d’agent administratif de la DRH. </b> <p> Quant aux <b>différences</b> retrouvées dans ces contextes différents, on peut relever : <p> 1.- <b>Dans les cas belge et français le modèle managérial dominant reste le management politique. </b> Par contre, <b>dans le cas chilien, le modèle de management « californien » est devenu clairement dominant. </b> <p> 2.- <b>Les pratiques dominantes de GRH, en Belgique et en France, restent celles du modèle conventionnaliste. Par contre, au Chili, les pratiques dominantes de GRH sont celles du modèle individualisant. </b> <p> 3.- L’évolution des rôles de la DRH, <b>dans le cas belge, a été pratiquement nulle ou plus tardive puisque le rôle dominant est resté d’agent administratif (AA). </b> Par contre, <b>dans le cas chilien, le rôle dominant est devenu celui d’expert opérationnel (EO). </b> Le rôle du partenaire stratégique (PS), tant prôné et souhaité par les managers, tarde lourdement à se développer. <p> Le modèle de relations professionnelles et le système politique, constituent un des facteurs parmi les plus importants qui expliquent les différences constatées. En Belgique, le modèle de relations professionnelles néo-corporatiste et social-démocrate au niveau national (avec un syndicalisme fort) fonctionne comme un mécanisme de régulation socio-économique reflétant les forces et les accords entre les partenaires sociaux. Tandis qu’au Chili, il n’existe ni de concertation sociale ni d’institutionnalisation équivalente au niveau national ; il prévaut ici le modèle confrontationnel et latin (avec un syndicalisme faible). <p> De même, tandis qu’en Belgique il existe une législation sociale plus complète régulant davantage le marché et protégeant les intérêts des personnes, en offrant une sécurité sociale plus large avec, en plus, une forte participation de l’Etat dans les dépenses publiques, au Chili la une législation sociale est plus incomplète et plus souple, favorisant davantage les décisions discrétionnaires des managers amenant principalement une régulation par le libre jeu du marché du travail. Le droit de grève, l’assignation de chômage, les procédures de licenciements ou d’embauche, etc., témoignent de ces différences. <p> Les traits de la culture latine « hybride » belge, traditionnellement négociatrice, influencent davantage, par exemple, le développement d’un modèle de management politique et des pratiques de GRH conventionnalistes, un travail en équipe ou le coaching, etc. Par contre, les traits de la culture latine chilienne, où l’autoritarisme et le paternalisme sont encore forts présents, stimulent un modèle de management plutôt classique et des pratiques de GRH objectivantes. <p> La différence des évolutions est évidente. Les aspects sociaux (sécurité sociale, éducation, droits des travailleurs, etc.) sont mieux garantis dans le cas belge et la logique productiviste est plus forte et nuisible dans le cas chilien. Tant que les acteurs indiqués demeurent, avec leurs particularités idéologiques, politiques, culturelles et leurs forces spécifiques, ces modèles resteront différents.

<p>Background</p><p>Globalization has opened up new possibilities for firms of all sizes to operate internationally. In that context, especially small- and medium sized companies often have limited resources and market power, which makes efficient relationship building with new intermediaries a key component when entering foreign markets. Therefore, approaching foreign companies and potentially engaging in new business relationships should be a strategic managerial issue.</p><p>Purpose</p><p>The main objective is to analyze how Swedish SMEs in the textile industry should approach German buyers in accordance to their preferences, taking cultural differences into account, as well as maintaining and developing the relationship. The focus will primarily be on the on the stages where the initial contact has been made, thus aiming at advancing in the development process. For this to be achieved, Swedish sellers must know what values to communicate to their counterpart.</p><p>Method</p><p>A qualitative approach has been used in order answer the purpose of the thesis. We have gathered our data from ten in-depth interviews; five with Swedish sellers and five with German buyers. The essential part of the data collection was done over telephone.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>The most critical components that are found to be vital in developing a successful buyer-seller relationship include trust, satisfaction and commitment with all their related aspects. It was found that the product offer plays a critical role in the Early Stage of the relationship development process. Communication is essential for the building of trust and satisfaction and supplements the actions of commitment shown by the parties. Having an understanding on what values the counterpart appreciates and when these are especially important in the respective stages of the relationship building enables the firm to adapt its relationship marketing to the buyers preferences in a cost efficient and successful way.</p>

Cette recherche sur le Togo est une contribution à la problématique du développement sportif et ses enjeux dans les pays d’Afrique francophone. Elle s’inscrit dans une optique pluridisciplinaire et comparative axée sur les méthodes de géographie du sport. Elle procède également à relecture des marqueurs historiques du contexte togolais.Dès le début du XXe siècle, l’impact de trois dominations coloniales (allemande, anglaise et française) est à l’origine, de l’implantation et de la diffusion des pratiques sportives au Togo. Après 1960, année de l’indépendance, le développement sportif, en continuité avec le legs colonial français, est pris en charge par l’Etat et devient un outil de contrôle social au service d’un régime autoritaire de type militaire. L’analyse de l’état des lieux actuel du sport au Togo montre la centralisation de l’action de l’Etat sur le sport d’élite, le déploiement de différents marchés sportifs et l’apparition de différents phénomènes sociaux dont la réappropriation des pratiques sportives et l’entraide communautaire.La comparaison des processus de diffusion identifiés au Togo avec ceux à l’œuvre dans les anciennes colonies de l’Afrique Occidentale Française notamment le Bénin et le Sénégal permet de dégager de nouvelles perspectives : l’utilisation des activités physiques traditionnelles ou modernes pour la mobilisation sociale et l’entretien d’une élite sportive. Ces deux axes sont complémentaires et nécessaires à l’élaboration d’un développement sportif inscrit dans la durée. / This research on Togo is aimed at contributing to the resolution of sports development problems and addressing its challenges in francophone African countries. The approach employed is multidisciplinary and comparative, based on the methods of sports geography. Moreover, it revisits key historical milestones in a Togolese context.Since the early twentieth century, the impact of three colonial dominations (German, English and French) was responsible for the origin, establishment and dissemination of sports in Togo. After 1960, the year of independence, sports development in continuity with the legacy of French colonial rule, was supported by the state and became a tool of social control by the authoritarian, military-style regime. The analysis of the current state of sports in Togo shows the centralization of state action on elite sports, the deployment of different sports markets and the emergence of different social phenomena such as appropriation and communal support.Comparison of the differences in methods of propagation identified in Togo and those at work in former West African French colonies such as Benin and Senegal exposes new opportunities: the use of physical activities, both traditional and modern for social mobilization and the maintenance of a sports elite. Both of which are complimentary and necessary for the development of sports for the long term.