The facilities management industry in the UK is relatively young but has experienced a rapid growth within the past two decades. This rapid development has increased the number of players in the industry and consequently, the need for greater market responsiveness. Despite this reality, an extensive literature search could not find any empirical study addressing the issue of marketing orientation in the industry. It was the aim of this study to fill the above gap in the marketing literature. The study aimed to reconceptualise marketing orientation and broaden-its dimensions in order to accommodate the paradoxes that are emerging as new contexts are focused. The boundary conditions for this reconceptualisation is a young industry such as Facilities Management, that lacks a well established industrial culture, is presently experiencing market turbulence and rapid growth, and operating within a period of intersection of the modem and postmodern cultures. The limits of present conceptualisation of marketing orientation as applicable to nascent industries are explored. Attempts to overcome these limits revealed a new conceptual framework for businesses trying to create and sustain a competitive advantage in the industry. The study also aimed to address implementation problems being faced in the industry by identifying useful antecedents that can enhance or impede the implementation process. The later part of the study was devoted to developing a benchmarking model that can be used by managers, to benchmark their organisations against the best practices in the field, in terms of marketing orientation. The study depended heavily on a positivist paradigm, where the quantitative research approach was heavily used. In-depth interviews were conducted in the later part of the research to explore some of the issues arising from the quantitative approach. It is hoped that this methodological triangulation will correct some of the inherent flaws of one-sided methodological approaches. Various methodological issues affecting the study were considered and necessary action taken. These methodological issues include, self assessment, reverse score items, non response bias, scope of study, sample frame, reliability and validity issues, interviewer effect, and others. Mail survey was used to collect data for the quantitative aspect of the research and 107 responses were used in the analysis. Being exploratory in design, the study sought to develop a scale that can adequately capture the operationalisation of the marketing concept within the facilities management industry. This was achieved by identifying aspects of marketing orientation that are not properly accommodated by the marketing literature, leading to the construction and validation of a new model of measurement. The scale development process provided empirical evidence that all components should be given equal weighting whencalculating the level of marketing orientation of an organisation. This confirms empirically what was previously assumed only from theoretical conceptualisation. Three new antecedents to marketing orientation were identified, namely; structural flux, employee flexibility, and teamwork orientation. The study established a higher level of marketing orientation pro-activity among firms with a formal customer service plan than those without. Paradoxically, the existence of a written customer service guideline was not found to have any significant impact on organisational marketing orientation stances. A benchmarking model that can be used by managers was developed and validated.

This thesis is an investigation into aspects of the impact on the manufacturing sector in South Yorkshire of the Single European Market (SEM) legislation of the European Union. The SEM represents a major economic integration programme of the European Union. It is of interest, therefore, to assess how producers are reacting to the implementation of the programme of legislation. It is widely expected that the degree of competition for markets will be enhanced and it is relevant to consider which manufacturing companies are the most likely to be taking steps to prepare, and what forms of preparation activity are taking place. It is also of concern to gauge what impact, if any, this has had or is likely to have on corporate performance. The SEM represents a fundamental change to the trading environment in which producers operate and, although it is expected that winners and losers will emerge from this process, it is estimated that a net gain will accrue. The logic behind the introduction of the SEM, in terms of the standard theory of international economic integration, appears to be sound. It is a remedy to a previously fragmented collection of national markets, and estimates of the expected impact over the medium to long term have been rather dramatic. In the UK economic environment, as elsewhere in the EU, the SEM is just one of many business influences and pressures which are considered and reacted to by the corporate sector in pursuit of achieving a successful business outcome. Nevertheless, the impact of the SEM is expected to be significant. South Yorkshire is a good example of an industrial sub-region struggling to come to terms with the new and emerging realities of world trading. It has a high proportion of industrial sectors thought likely, on the grounds of market and production characteristics, to be vulnerable to the impact of the extra competition embodied in the SEM. It therefore forms a good case study. The empirical analysis in the thesis is based on the results of a survey of 139 manufacturing companies located in South Yorkshire in March, 1994 (ie. not long after the official completion date for the introduction of the SEM legislation on January 1st, 1993). Data has been derived by questionnaire on the following company characteristics and activities: general corporate structures; activities in preparation for trading in European markets in general and, more specifically, in the SEM; recent company performance levels; and information and advice needs of companies with regard to trading in the SEM. A number of statistical analyses are applied to the data and the findings are presented within the context of the underlying economic rationale. An original contribution to knowledge is made in the following respects. The data reveals varied involvement of the South-Yorkshire based manufacturing sector with activities in preparation for trading in the SEM in particular and, more generally, for trading in more open European markets. The scale and extent of involvement in preparation activity and the types of activity undertaken are shown.

No description available.

No description available.

We take advantage of the fact that for the Austrian SILC 2008-2011, two data sources are available in parallel for the same households: register-based and survey-based income data. Thus, we aim to explain which households tend to under- or over-report their household income by estimating multinomial logit and OLS models with covariates referring to the interview situation, employment status and socio-demographic household characteristics. Furthermore, we analyze source-specific differences in the distribution of household income and how these differences affect aggregate poverty indicators based on household income. The analysis reveals an increase in the cross-sectional poverty rates for 2008-2011 and the longitudinal poverty rate if register data rather than survey data are used. These changes in the poverty rate are mainly driven by differences in employment income rather than sampling weights and other income components. Regression results show a pattern of mean-reverting errors when comparing household income between the two data sources. Furthermore, differences between data sources for both under-reporting and over-reporting slightly decrease with the number of panel waves in which a household participated. Among the other variables analyzed that are related to the interview situation (mode, proxy, interview month), only the number of proxy interviews was (weakly) positively correlated with the difference between data sources, although this outcome was not robust over different model specifications.

EU is today one of the largest aid donors in the world and the debate regarding their intentions is well nuanced. This study’s main focus lies in examining the motives within the action plan between the EU and Morocco, and was conducted with the intention to contribute to the debate of EU’s external actions. By using key-terms from neoliberalism and neoliberalism and applying it on the actions by using a motive-analysis, they can be defined and tied to one of the theories state, as well as represent the generalized idea of the theories external action. The results of the study shows that EU, in cooperation with Morocco, though the ENP acts with the means of absolute gain.

Marketing, both as a business philosophy and a set of activities, is widely applicable to the tourism and travel retailer (the travel agent). The level of marketing's application to the travel agent does not appear to depend on the size or independence of the agent. The level of acceptance of marketing does, however, depend on internal factors, such as the nature of the owner/manager, and external factors, such as the state of the economy. The research carried out in the thesis shows that, in general, marketing is not widely accepted and applied by travel agents. Travel agents exhibit symptoms of low marketing orientation as well as behaving in a passive manner as regards their role in the industry. Although the thesis analyses how marketing can be, and is, applied, it is apparent that individual travel agents seem to be impeded in fully applying marketing to their business. These barriers are examined in the thesis with the aim of explaining the difference between the applicability and actual level of application of marketing amongst travel agents. The findings of the thesis have implications for the travel industry. The range of marketing activities that may be applied to the travel agent, show him what is possible and what barriers may exist to impede his attempts to become more marketing oriented. Furthermore the agent - principal relationship greatly depends on the actual and potential scope of the travel agent's marketing. This agent - principal relationship, and the agent - client relationship are affected by the marketing approach adopted by the individual travel agent. The thesis sheds light on the behaviour of different types of travel agents and suggests that small/independent agents are equally able to apply marketing as other types of agents. Marketing, as an emerging business area, is applicable to the service sector, as well as the retailing and small business areas of which the travel agent is often a good example. Having indicated the applicability, the way lies open for the application of marketing by tourism and travel retailers.

Older people are an increasing section of the UK population as part of what has been described as a global ageing phenomenon. It is projected that by the year 2021, 12.3 million people in the UK will be over pensionable age. It is suggested that the decentralisation of many food retailers to edge-of-town and out-of-town locations has resulted in some older people experiencing difficulty in accessing food shops. Older people who experience the greatest difficulties in food shopping are considered to be at the greatest nutritional risk. Varied diets are generally considered to be associated with increased nutrient intake and healthier diets. The present study examined how older people residing in Guildford accessed food shops. The study considered the extent to which the availability of food shops, the stores older people use and their attitudes with regard to diet and health may influence their dietary variety. Shopping behaviour and dietary variety were investigated using focus groups, a face-to-face questionnaire and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). A dietary variety score system, developed from the FFQ, is employed in this study. Attitudes with regard to healthy eating were measured using questions based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Neither access to food shops nor store choice was found to have an influence on dietary variety. Store choice was primarily influenced by respondents' ability to reach food stores, namely in terms of the method of transport available and their perceived ease of access to the store Respondents reported shopping more frequently or relying on friends or relatives, in order to maintain their independence and reach food shops. Attitudes to diet and health were found to influence dietary variety. Findings suggest that older people in Guildford employ coping strategies as a means of reaching food shops, obtaining food and maintaining independence and social inclusion.

The purpose of this thesis is to propose an effective and ecological solution for emission trading in the Czech Republic. The proposal will be compiled on the basis of a previous description of emission trading within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and around the world. This description will consist of legal and economic consequences of emission trading, a comparison of implemented policies of several countries, followed by information about Czech emission trading, and finally a proposal to improve the current situation on carbon market in the Czech Republic. Proposed improvements will be compared in the discussion.

The aim of this thesis was to present an overview of the Regional policy of the European Union and of the effects of this policy in relation to selected the town. The main aim was to evaluate the finances resources of the EU funds gained by the town of Písek in the period 2007-2013. Reaching the target was preceded by a theoretical basis, which explains basic terms related to cohesion policy and describes of effects of this policy in connection to the development of regions EU. On the main aim were followed sub-goals, who were achieved accross of the selected methods and procedures in a particular parts of thesis. The main goal and sub-goals were fulfilled. Sub-goals were to describe and analyze implemented projects to town of Písek, to analyze the use of finances from the funds of EU and to assess whether the projects were implemented in accordance with the aims of strategic plan of development town Písek. The last sub-goal of the formulation own proposals for the future of town of Písek were presented at the end of thesis.