The diploma thesis focuses on the motivation system in a selected MLM company. It analyzes the existing motivation system and surveys of the feedback from members of the company using interviews and questionnaires. It contains proposal to improve the motivation system which should lead to an increase in team production.

Ph.D. (Marketing Management) / In South Africa there are a number of government and private institutions that provide higher education. Competition amongst these is intense and all are competing for students. Dobbelstein (2003: 3) argues that higher education institutions have to consider their relative competitive advantage in this landscape. The institutions that fulfil customers’ requirements the best will get the most students. This situation must be seen in the light of the current skills shortage in South Africa. In order to meet future demand for appropriately skilled managers and workers, ongoing collaboration and consultation between the business sector and higher education providers is required in order to ensure that the goals are met of all primary stakeholders – industry, educators, and students. Students getting workplace experience (or internships) can benefit all three stakeholders (Petrillose & Montgomery, 1998: 46 – 51). The present study seeks to determine the impact of an experiential learning project on the development of marketing students – by using an occupational interest questionnaire. Research conducted by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) indicated that there seems to be no general agreement on the use of terminology for concepts such as experiential learning (EL), work-based learning (WBL), work-integrated learning (WIL), or service learning (SL) (Geyser 2007: 5). There are subtle differences between the terms:  Experiential learning is a term traditionally used within the context of the former technikons to mean what is now known as ‘work-based learning’.  Work-based learning is a component of a programme of study: it focuses on the application of theory in an authentic, working context. It addresses specific competencies identified for the acquisition of a qualification. These competencies relate to the development of skills that will make the student employable, and will assist in developing personal skills.  Service learning is applied learning which is directed at specific community needs and is integrated into an academic programme or curriculum.  Work-integrated learning is a structured portion of a qualification in which the volume of learning allocated to WIL should be appropriate to the purposes of the qualification. WIL programmes must be appropriately structured, supervised, and assessed.  Co-operative education is a teaching and learning strategy which integrates classroom teaching and learning into structured learning that occurs in an authentic and approved setting. This concept is based on a partnership between the university, the student, and industry, or the community at large (Geyser 2007: 7).

La recherche d'une « plus grande proximité » avec le consommateur n'est pas qu'une formule à la mode désignant un phénomène conjoncturel, comme en témoigne l'utilisation récurrente de ce concept dans différents champs des sciences humaines pour analyser les relations interpersonnelles, inter-entreprises ou entre clients et fournisseurs. L'objectif de ce travail doctoral est de spécifier le concept de proximité perçue du point de vue du marketing et d'analyser son rôle dans la gestion de la relation du client au point de vente. Cette recherche, menée, dans le cadre spécifique de la vente directe de produits alimentaires, démontre l'intérêt théorique et managérial du concept de proximité.Une revue de littérature et une étude qualitative par entretiens semi directifs menée auprès de 35 acheteurs, dans différents formats de vente directe de produits alimentaires (AMAP, Marchés et Points de ventes collectifs) permet tout d'abord de démontrer que le concept de proximité perçue est multiforme : 1- la proximité d'accès correspond à la facilité et la praticité perçue qu'a le consommateur pour se rendre sur le point de vente; 2- la proximité relationnelle, exprime la force de la relation directe entre le personnel en contact et le consommateur ; 3- la proximité identitaire, renvoie à un partage de valeurs avec le le point de vente et enfin 4- la proximité de processus, est liée au partage de connaissances sur son fonctionnement interne. Une échelle de mesure de ces formes de proximité est proposée, puis validée.Dans un second temps, l'application empirique de cette échelle de mesure, auprès de 579 acheteurs, dans trois formats de vente directe fournit une mesure effective de la proximité perçue dans ce contexte. Ces études permettent, via un modèle d'équations structurelles, de tester l'impact des différentes formes de proximité sur la confiance, attestant du pouvoir prédictif du concept. Les résultats montrent en effet que la confiance à l'égard du circuit de vente directe est influencée positivement par : la proximité identitaire, la proximité de processus, et la proximité d'accès. En revanche, la proximité relationnelle n'influence pas directement la confiance à l'égard du circuit. Elle y participe néanmoins via son rôle dans la construction des autres formes de proximité.Dans un troisième temps, prenant appui sur ces mêmes enquêtes, nous démontrons le pouvoir discriminant du concept. Tout d'abord vis-à-vis des formats de vente. Les Points de vente collectifs génèrent en effet une proximité identitaire plus forte, accompagnée par une formalisation et une communication plus importantes de leurs valeurs et principes d'action. Les AMAP créent quant à elles davantage de proximité de processus. Proposant à leurs adhérents de participer aux activités de production mais également à l'organisation et la gestion de la distribution, elles renforcent le sentiment de contrôle des consommateurs. Sur les marchés, où la dynamique collective est quasi inexistante et les principes de fonctionnement ni formalisés ni communiqués, les différentes proximités perçues sont significativement plus faibles.Le concept de proximité discrimine également les consommateurs. Une segmentation en fonction de la proximité perçue montre qu'il est possible de distinguer trois types de consommateurs : les intimes, caractérisés par une proximité multiforme (identitaire, relationnelle et de processus), les affiliés qui se sentent proches des valeurs et des manières de travailler mais prennent peu de temps pour échanger et les distants qui ne se sentent proches du point de vente qu'à travers les valeurs qu'il représente.Enfin, une enquête quantitative complémentaire conduite auprès de 1208 clients de boucheries, petits commerces d'alimentation et primeurs nous permet de démontrer la spécificité de la vente directe uniquement en terme de proximité identitaire, remettant en cause l'idée d'une proximité relationnelle plus forte dans ces circuits. / The desire for a "closer relationship" with the consumer is not just a buzzword denoting a conjunctural phenomenon. The recurrent use of this concept in social sciences to analyze interpersonal and inter-enterprise relationships or relationships between customers and suppliers testifies it. This thesis specifies the concept of perceived closeness from the marketing point of view and analyzes its role in the management of customer relationship to the point of sale. Conducted in the specific context of direct selling of food products, this research demonstrates the theoretical and managerial interests of the concept of closeness.A literature review and a qualitative study using semi-directive interviews conducted with 35 customers in different formats of direct sale of food products (CSA, Markets and farm shops) demonstrates that the concept of perceived closeness takes many forms: 1- the access closeness is the ease and convenience perceived by the consumer to go to the point of sale 2- relational closeness expresses the strength of the direct relationship between the salesperson in contact and the consumer 3- identity closeness refers to values shared with the point of sale and finally 4- process closeness is related to the sharing of knowledge about the internal functioning of the point of sale. A measurement-scale of these forms of closeness is given, and then validated.In a second time, the empirical application of this measurement scale, to 579 customers in three formats of direct sales provides an effective measure of perceived closeness in this context. These studies, using a structural equation model, allow to test the impact of different forms of closeness on trust, demonstrating the predictive power of the concept. Results show that trust in the direct point of sale is positively influenced by identity closeness, process closeness and access closeness. However, relational closeness does not directly influence customer trust in the point of sale. It participates to it via its role in the construction of other forms of closeness.In a third part, we demonstrate the discriminative power of the concept. Firstly towards the sales formats. Farm shops generate a stronger identity closeness accompanied by a greater formalization and communication of their values and principles. CSA create for their part greater process closeness. By allowing their members to participate in production but also in the organization and management of the distribution of products, they reinforce the consumer's sense of control. On the markets, where the collective dynamics is almost nonexistent and the principles of operation neither formalized nor communicated, the different forms of perceived closeness are significantly lower.The concept of closeness is also discriminant for consumers. A segmentation according to the perceived closeness shows that it is possible to distinguish three types of consumers: the intimates, characterized by a multifaceted closeness (identity, relational and process), the affiliates who feel close to the values and ways of working but take little time to exchange, and the distants who feel close to the point of sale only through the values it represents.Finally, a complementary quantitative survey of 1208 customers of small food shops, of butcheries, and of fruit and vegetables shops, allows us to demonstrate the specificity of direct sale only in terms of identity closeness, challenging the idea of a stronger relational closeness in these circuits.

A la croisée des travaux menés en marketing relationnel et en sociologie économique, le concept de l'encastrement social de la relation marchande a été relativement peu traité en sciences de gestion. En vente, il présente un intérêt majeur dans la mesure où il tire son origine d'un processus social dynamique courant, basé à la fois sur la recommandation et la création d'un lien social plus personnel avec le client. Cette thèse porte sur les implications de l'ancrage social de la relation client sur la performance du vendeur. Elle s'intéresse à une population de vendeurs particuliers : les vendeuses par réunion à domicile. Il ressort de nos enquêtes que l'encastrement des échanges marchands au sein d'une structure de relations sociales pré-existantes facilite la conversion d'un client basique en client fidèle qui prescrit le vendeur et les produits auprès de son réseau relationnel. / Between marketing and economic sociology works, social embeddedness of market exchanges has been relatively little studied in management science. In sales research, it is of great interest to the extent that it originates from a dynamic social process based on both recommendation and creation of personal social ties with customers. This dissertation focuses on the consequences of social embeddedness of customer relationship on salesperson performance. Our field study focuses on particular salespersons : direct sellers by home party. It appears that social embeddedness of market exchanges within a structure of pre-existing social relationships facilitates the conversion of basic customer into an advocate who recommend the salesperson and products in its relational network.

The thesis deals with direct sales and its use in small business. Specifically, the sales of Internet service of regional ISP. The aim of this work is to demonstrate that direct selling is the way how to obtain new customers for the company JHComp in a competitive market, the market where the company itself has been long time active. To this end, the project plans the sale and subsequently leads to implementing the plan. The theoretical part deals with the concept of "direct sale" within the meaning of "person to person", settles the concept into a spectrum of marketing tools, informs about the history and highlights the facts. It also deals with the theory of marketing plan design and implementation of a plan. The practical part finally results in the assessment of executed sales and the entire project as a contribution to the company. Further proposes the use in the future.

Technology is transforming industries, challenging traditional marketing channels, and providing digital avenues for dynamic growth. The popularity of digital platforms has disrupted traditional distribution channels, increased reach of social networks, and changed the way people interact. This research examines how advanced technology is enabling direct sellers to create and maintain relationships. It investigates the multidimensional aspect of technology use and advances the proposition that it acts as a strategic success factor for customer relationship performance specifically within the peer-guided marketplace of direct selling. Using a survey of 114 direct sellers, findings suggest that, in general, technology use does enhance direct sellers' ability to create and maintain consumer relationships, especially among less-experienced salespeople.

Network Direct Selling Organisations (NDSOs) exist in more than 50 countries and have more than 74 million members. The most recent statistical information reveals that the vast majority of members do not earn significant income. Criticism of these organisations revolves around the ethicality of consumption, the commercialisation of personal relationships, and the exploitation of unrealistic expectations. This study aims to explore how communication creates networks that sustain an industry of this kind despite the improbability of its existence. The study commences with a description of NDSOs from historical, operational, tactical, and strategic perspectives. Given the broader context created by the global presence of this industry, cybernetics has been selected as a meta-theoretical perspective for the study of communication. The more recent development of second-order cybernetics and social autopoiesis are introduced to communication theory as a field. Niklas Luhmann‟s new social theory of communication is assessed and applied in relation to existing communication theory. New conceptual models are developed to explore communication as the unity of the synthesis of information, utterance, understanding, and expectations as selections that occur both consciously and unconsciously, intentionally and unintentionally. These models indicate the multiplexity of individual and social operationally closed, yet informationally open systems, and they are used here to provide a systemic and coherent alternative to orthodox communication approaches to the study of organisations. The study adopts a constructivist epistemological stance and propounds throughout the necessity of further interdisciplinary collaboration. The study concludes that individuals are composite unities of self-creating systems, and they co-create social systems by self-creating and co-creating meaning. Meaning is described as the continuous virtualisation and actualisation of potentialities that in turn coordinate individual and social systems‟ actions. A communication process flow model is created to provide a theoretical explanation for the existence of NDSOs as self-creating systems. The study aims to show that communication has arguably become the most pervasive discipline as a result of the globally interactive era. It is shown that second-order cybernetics and social autopoiesis raise several further questions to be explored within communication theory as a field. / Communication, first-order cybernetics, second-order cybernetics, Complexity and complex systems, autopoiesis, self-reference, recursivity, operational closure, system boundaries, Network Direct Selling Organisations / Communication / D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication)

by Connie S.K. Leung. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1990. / Bibliography: leaves [93]-[98] / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1. --- Some Observations on Direct Marketing in Hong Kong / Chapter 2. --- The New Generation - Hong Kong Yuppies / Chapter 3. --- Overview of the Huppies Club Concept / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.14 / Chapter 1. --- What is Direct Marketing? / Chapter 2. --- Direct Marketing Versus Geneial Marketing / Chapter 3. --- Merits of Direct Marketing / Chapter 4. --- Why does Direct Marketing Grow? / Chapter 5. --- Prime Prospects of Direct Marketing / Chapter 6. --- Key to Direct Marketing Success / Chapter 7. --- Direct Mail in Hong Kong / Chapter 8. --- Definition of Yuppies / Chapter 9. --- Yuppies' Demographic Characteristics / Chapter 10. --- Yuppies' Psychographics / Chapter 11. --- Yuppies' Lifestyle / Chapter 12. --- Yuppies and Direct Marketing / Chapter 13. --- Huppies: Hong Kong Yuppies / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- RESEARCH OBJECTIVES --- p.49 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- METHODOLOGY --- p.50 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- KEY FINDINGS --- p.51 / Chapter 1. --- Huppies' Lifestyle / Chapter 2. --- Experience With Direct Mail / Chapter 3. --- Club Membership / Chapter 4. --- The Huppies Club Concept / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS --- p.71

Network Direct Selling Organisations (NDSOs) exist in more than 50 countries and have more than 74 million members. The most recent statistical information reveals that the vast majority of members do not earn significant income. Criticism of these organisations revolves around the ethicality of consumption, the commercialisation of personal relationships, and the exploitation of unrealistic expectations. This study aims to explore how communication creates networks that sustain an industry of this kind despite the improbability of its existence. The study commences with a description of NDSOs from historical, operational, tactical, and strategic perspectives. Given the broader context created by the global presence of this industry, cybernetics has been selected as a meta-theoretical perspective for the study of communication. The more recent development of second-order cybernetics and social autopoiesis are introduced to communication theory as a field. Niklas Luhmann‟s new social theory of communication is assessed and applied in relation to existing communication theory. New conceptual models are developed to explore communication as the unity of the synthesis of information, utterance, understanding, and expectations as selections that occur both consciously and unconsciously, intentionally and unintentionally. These models indicate the multiplexity of individual and social operationally closed, yet informationally open systems, and they are used here to provide a systemic and coherent alternative to orthodox communication approaches to the study of organisations. The study adopts a constructivist epistemological stance and propounds throughout the necessity of further interdisciplinary collaboration. The study concludes that individuals are composite unities of self-creating systems, and they co-create social systems by self-creating and co-creating meaning. Meaning is described as the continuous virtualisation and actualisation of potentialities that in turn coordinate individual and social systems‟ actions. A communication process flow model is created to provide a theoretical explanation for the existence of NDSOs as self-creating systems. The study aims to show that communication has arguably become the most pervasive discipline as a result of the globally interactive era. It is shown that second-order cybernetics and social autopoiesis raise several further questions to be explored within communication theory as a field. / Communication, first-order cybernetics, second-order cybernetics, Complexity and complex systems, autopoiesis, self-reference, recursivity, operational closure, system boundaries, Network Direct Selling Organisations / Communication / D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication)

Technology is becoming more central to people’s lives than ever before, and the most widely embraced technological device on the consumer market are mobile phones. This creates an ever-increasing market place for mobile apps, which during 2016 had revenues amounted to 88.3 billion U.S. dollars. The number is expected to increase, and together is estimated to generate 188.9 billion U.S. dollars in revenues 2020. One of the industries affected by this strong online presence is direct selling, where branded mobile apps have started to be used as a sales tool for sales representatives. The apps aim to facilitate the sales representatives’ daily work and bring new opportunities to engage with the end customers in a more convenient way. However, limited research exists about how the sales representatives experience the branded mobile apps in the industry. The purpose of this paper is to explore the sales representatives’ behavior and attitude towards using branded mobile apps within the direct selling industry. This study has been conducted by a quantitative descriptive and exploratory study using a survey. Sales representatives that placed an order exceeding 100 Euros during the last three weeks in five Western culture countries for one direct selling company were targeted. In total, 460 responses were gathered. The result gave some valuable insights although the initial hypothesized benefits could not be confirmed. The findings instead suggest separate items that contributed the most to sales representatives’ satisfaction and purchase intentions. In order to increase satisfaction among sales representatives, branded mobile apps used in direct sales should 1) facilitate the interaction with the company, 2) be easy to navigate with, 3) provide relevant information, 4) be convenient to shop from, and finally 5) work as a good conversation topic in a social context. Further on, the item identified to have the greatest contribution to purchase intentions is how convenient the app is to shop from, i.e. the same as number 4) above. The future challenge for the direct selling industry and its managers is thus to take advantage of these insights and further study how the attributes more practically can be implemented for their business. By focusing on these actions in the creation and development of branded mobile apps, the direct selling industry can expect to achieve higher satisfaction among their sales representatives and also increase their purchase intentions. / Dagens teknik har blivit en allt mer central del i människors liv, och den vanligaste enheten på konsumentmarknaden idag är mobiltelefoner. Detta har skapat en ständigt ökande marknad för mobilappar, som år 2016 genererade 88.3 miljarder U.S. dollar. Antalet appanvändare framöver förväntas att öka, och tillsammans generera 188.9 miljarder U.S. dollar i intäkter år 2020. En av de branscher som påverkats av denna starka närvaro online är direktförsäljning, där appar har börjat användas som försäljningsverktyg för konsulenterna. Apparna syftar till att underlätta konsulenternas dagliga arbete och ge nya möjligheter att engagera sig med slutkunderna på ett lättare och mer fördelaktigt sätt. Dock existerar det lite forskning och kännedom om hur konsulenterna upplever användandet av appar i branschen. Syftet med detta examensarbete är att undersöka försäljningsrepresentanternas beteende och attityd gentemot att använda appar inom direktförsäljningsbranschen. Studien har varit både beskrivande och undersökande, och har genomförts genom en samla in kvantitativ data med hjälp av en enkätundersökning. Kunder som har lagt en order över 100 Euros de tre senaste veckorna i fem västeuropeiska länder för ett direktförsäljningsföretag har studerats. Totalt erhölls 460 svar. Resultatet gav flertalet värdefulla insikter, även om de initiala hypoteserna syftade till att undersöka olika fördelar inte kunde bekräftas. Resultaten föreslår istället separata aspekter med störst påverkan på hur nöjda konsulenterna är, samt deras köpintentioner. För att öka nöjdheten bland konsulenter bör appar som används i direktförsäljning 1) underlätta samspelet med företaget, 2) vara lätta att navigera med, 3) tillhandahålla relevant information, 4) vara bekväm att handla från och slutligen 5) fungera som ett bra samtalsämne i ett socialt sammanhang. Vidare kunde det ses att den identifierade aspekten som bidrar mest till konsultenternas köpintentioner är hur bekvämt appen är att handla från, det vill säga samma aspekt som identifierades för konsulenters tillfredställelse under nummer 4) ovan. Den framtida utmaningen för direktförsäljningsindustrin och dess chefer är således att utnyttja dessa insikter och studera vidare hur dessa aspekter kan lämpas mer i praktiken för deras företag. Genom att fokusera på dessa åtgärder vid skapandet och utvecklingen av appar kan direktförsäljningsindustrin räkna med att erhålla högre tillfredsställelse bland sina konsulenter, samt att även öka deras köpintentioner.