Photonic generation of ultra-low phase noise and frequency-tunable microwave or millimeter-wave (mm-wave) signals has been a topic of interest in the last few years. Advanced photonic techniques, especially the recent advancement in photonic components, have enabled the generation of microwave and mm-wave signals at high frequencies with a large tunable range and ultra-low phase noise. In this thesis, techniques to generate microwave and mm-wave signals in the optical domain are investigated, with an emphasis on system architectures to achieve large frequency tunability and low phase noise. The thesis consists of two parts. In the first part, techniques to generate microwave and mm-wave signals based on microwave frequency multiplication are investigated. Microwave frequency multiplication can be realized in the optical domain based on external modulation using a Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM), but with limited multiplication factor. Microwave frequency multiplication based on external modulation using two cascaded MZMs to provide a larger multiplication factor has been proposed, but no generalized approach has been developed. In this thesis, a generalized approach to achieving microwave frequency multiplication using two cascaded MZMs is presented. A theoretical analysis leading to the operating conditions to achieve frequency quadrupling, sextupling or octupling is developed. The system performance in terms of phase noise, tunability and stability is investigated. To achieve microwave generation with a frequency multiplication factor (FMF) of 12, a technique based on a joint operation of polarization modulation, four-wave mixing and stimulated-Brillouin-scattering-assisted filtering is also proposed. The generation of a frequency-tunable mm-wave signal from 48 to 132 GHz is demonstrated. The proposed architecture can even potentially boost the FMF up to 24. In the second part, techniques to generate ultra-low phase noise and frequency-tunable microwave and mm-wave signals based on an optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) are studied. The key component in an OEO to achieve low phase noise and large frequency-tunable operation is the microwave bandpass filter. In the thesis, we first develop a microwave photonic filter with an ultra-narrow passband and large tunability based on a phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating (PS-FBG). Then, an OEO incorporating such a microwave photonic filter is developed. The performance including the tunable range and phase noise is evaluated. To further increase the frequency tunable range, a technique to achieve microwave frequency multiplication in an OEO is proposed. An mm-wave signal with a tunable range more than 40 GHz is demonstrated.

The purpose of this thesis is to develop an understanding of the change in values, seen through company culture, experienced by a family business when the leadership transfers from the founding family to an external CEO. In a family business, strongly rooted family values are reflected by the very nature of the organization they have created. If a family member is the successor of a healthy and grow-ing family business, the successor should by default share most of the incumbent‟s personal values and as such be able to keep the organization on its current track. However, it is not possible to completely evade the possibility of mis-matching values, and this issue lingers and is even more pressing when the company is faced with an external leader. By conducting a qualitative multiple case study with semi-structured interviews on two Swedish family businesses, and then performing a case analysis through pattern matching, we attempted to answer if the family business‟ values, in the sense of organizational culture, change in relation to the change to external leadership, seen from an employees‟ perspec-tive. We also sought to answer why the organizational culture changes or not in relation to the change to external leadership, and what role the personal values of the leader play. From our analysis, we could conclude that the organizational values do change, even if only slightly, and that the reason for this is the fact that the external CEOs does not have iden-tical personal values to the founding families/owner. The pattern was found that recruiting an external leader enhances the value of efficiency in a company, and that the leader‟s per-sonal values reduces the resistance to change, influence the organizational culture and sub-sequently makes it change, given that the leader is an accepted part of the company‟s power structure. It would be beneficial to, in future research, connect our study one step further back in the causality chain and look at how previous experiences of the external CEO in-fluences the organizational culture.

Purpose - The purpose of this research is to investigate market entry modes selection of Swedish SMEs concerning their entry in Chinese market. The information we extracted from various Swedish SMEs may to some extent functional to other Swedish SMEs as well while seeking to enter in the foreign market. Design/methodology/approach -The authors employ multiple case studies. The data was collected with telephone interviews with managers and directors. Findings - The study indicates that numerous internal and external factors are driving the SMEs to choose a specific entry mode while internationalizing their business in a foreign market. Research limitations/implications - The study and the findings are based on four cases. Therefore the results can only be considered tentative. Additionally, the retrospective nature of the research design is challenging, as it puts weight on the respondents’ memory and ability to identify change. Practical implications –The information can be utilized for managers in SMEs to understand the factors that influence them while they are choosing an appropriate entry mode. Original/value – In contrast with previous research we focused on how the internal and external factors drive the firms to choose a specific entry mode in a foreign market. This information will may have some functional for other SMEs while entering in foreign markets.

This thesis examines records created through diplomatic activities and considers approaches to their archival description, using those created by the Canadian Department of External Affairs in the 1920s as a case study. The objective of the thesis is to explore the history of this record genre with a focus on how archivists can provide users with access to more authentic and meaningful diplomatic records. Chapter One will provide a broad overview history of the diplomatic genre as well as the place of such contextual knowledge about the creation and characteristics of these records. Chapter Two will introduce a key strategy that archives can implement to more effectively relay contextual knowledge to archival users through the function of description. Chapter Three will then introduce a case study, building upon the approach identified in Chapter Two, and based on Canada’s Department of External Affairs in the 1920s.

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in modern business society but still face difficulties in debt financing. Literatures suggest that family involvement and external auditing can assist small firms to mitigate agency problems that impede the access to loans, and the liability of newness could be a factor in small business debt financing. Our research examines how family involvement affects cost of debt upon the different choices on external auditing, and how the liability of newness works. We find when engaging external auditing, family involvement is not a significant influencer in reducing the cost of debt for small businesses. Besides, when the external auditing is not engaged, family involvement becomes a significant influencer. We also find that when external auditing is not engaged, family involvement works in reducing the cost of debt only when the liability of newness is a factor.

This study was conducted to explore the external sources of knowledge that are present around the eco-innovation firms. Our study has focused on eco-innovations with the aim  to find sustainable solutions, leading the reduction in greenhouse gases, on the extraction of renewable energy sources, since studies have indicated a link between the industrialization and the impact on the climate.  The purpose formulated for this study was to explore the external sources of knowledge that are present around the eco-innovation firms. By conducting this exploratory study we will contribute to existing research by adding empirical evidence to identifying what the external sources of knowledge are and further explore what kind of knowledge eco-innovation firms gain from these external sources. The participating companies in the study was chosen since they represent Swedish firms in the development of eco-innovations with the goal to minimize the environmental impact.  We conducted the thesis with a qualitative approach and the empirical data was gathered from four different companies in the field of wave and tidal power. The four interviews were executed through telephone interviews with both the researches acting as interviewers. The respondents were either the CEO of the company or a board member, since these persons were most likely to possess the relevant information for this study.  In our study we have found the external sources of knowledge to be of significant importance to the eco-innovation firms. Based on our theoretical framework, we have identified the external assets as suppliers, customers, competitors, governmental actors and research institutions. These external sources have different importance depending on the character of the knowledge that is gained. The external sources showed to contribute with important knowledge in areas of R&D capabilities, technology development, market orientation and regulation. By assessing the external sources of knowledge firms will unlock great potential knowledge that would otherwise be very costly. A conclusion was that as eco-innovation firms acquire knowledge by their external assets in parallel there are signals, unconsciously communicated going out to the external environment. Since our study has shown that academic experience among the founders seemed to have been helping the firms in their contact with governmental actors in order to attract subsidies and in the approval process for test sites, this indicates that what seems to be communicated from within the eco-innovation firms to their external environment is certain legitimacy, credibility and reputation that strengthen the relationship with governmental actors. This study was performed as a multiple case study on four different eco-innovation firms working with development of technology to extract energy from renewable energy sources in terms of wave and tidal power. Our choice to only interview one person on each firm, due to a limited time frame and resources, might make it hard to generalize the findings since there is a possibility of biased data. Other limitations that make it hard to draw to much from the results are the fact of focusing on a limited area on eco-innovation in only one country, since regulations play an important role this might differ between different countries.

The purpose of this study was to examine how selected senior college leaders perceive the salience of particular external stakeholders, as represented by individuals, companies, associations, sectors or groups. The study also explored leader perceptions of the factors and values that influenced the salience of these stakeholders. The stakeholder salience model (Mitchell, Agle, & Wood, 1997) was applied to investigate which groups and individuals were viewed by college and institute senior leaders as external stakeholders and to determine the salience of these stakeholders as perceived by senior college leaders. This qualitative case study drew on principles of naturalistic inquiry and was situated within an interpretive paradigm. Purposive sampling resulted in ten participants chosen based on their leadership positions within Canadian colleges. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews. A conceptual framework based upon Freeman’s (1984) stakeholder theory and the theory of stakeholder salience (Mitchell et al., 1997) guided the study. The stakeholder salience model (Mitchell et al.), which proposes that the attributes of power, legitimacy and urgency determine stakeholder salience, was applied to the data provided by senior college leaders. The study also examined the values and beliefs of the senior college leaders as they relate to the mission, mandate and priorities of their college. It was found that the Mitchell et al. framework did not fit well to the Canadian public college sector as the leaders did not view salience in a way that is consistent with the elements of the framework. Attempting to limit the study to external stakeholders was problematic as respondents were unable to separate students from their thoughts, answers and examples. Also, the leaders did not describe the elements of stakeholder salience in a way that was congruent with the Mitchell et al. (1997) theory. Most of the participants identified government as the only stakeholder that was truly powerful and yet they believed that many other groups, including students, should have some power. Paradoxically, many of the respondents seemed to feel that government lacked legitimacy due to the political nature of decisions. The findings highlighted the importance of the values held by the senior college leaders as a major factor in stakeholder salience and as an influence in determining institutional priorities. Though this study is based on a limited number of participants, it does raise questions regarding the actions of provincial governments which are generally viewed as problematic for the Canadian college sector. Also, students and industry are central to the college but their power largely depends on voice. The contribution of this research to leadership and educational administration is a greater understanding of the nature and role of stakeholder relationships at the senior college leadership level, as well as greater insight into how senior college leaders think about external stakeholders or, in other words, who and what really counts. Findings of this study may be valuable to senior college leaders who deal and interact with influential external stakeholders. The study also contributed to the higher education field by documenting how senior college leaders perceive the salience of external stakeholders.

No description available.

This thesis is an ethnography of the postnatal experiences of South Asian migrant women in Perth, Western Australia. I examine cultural differences relating to mothering and argue that the South Asian culture in which these migrant women were socialized can impact greatly on how they experience the feelings of what is called “postnatal depression” in the Western medical arena. I carried out ethnographic research among the members of the Bangladeshi and Indian communities in Perth. The main focus group of this study is first time mothers who gave birth in Australia, but I also worked with other women who had grown up children. Due to migration the South Asian women and their families experienced social isolation, cultural differences, language difficulties, economic hardship and low job satisfaction. Moreover, when these women gave birth in Perth they were faced with a lack of physical and emotional support, and also distress at not being able to perform their traditional birth rituals. Their difficult situations led the women to cry, feel despondent, to suffer and to experience a sense of hopelessness. Their painful postnatal feelings can be defined as an illness - depression - by the Western medicine. However, I found these women did not perceive their negative postnatal feelings as an illness, but accepted them as a part of life. I analysed these women’s postnatal psychological understandings about “postnatal depression” by examining the South Asian convention of female virtue which is practiced through restrictions on female behaviour. The migrant women in my study, having internalizing the South Asian cultural schema of womanhood, articulate their negative postnatal feelings as a prerequisite of motherhood. In this thesis I argue that feelings are not the totality of experience, rather, experience is also formulated by the particular sociocultural perspective of the individual who is having the experience. The culture a person belongs to, defines how that person will experience his or her feelings. I also suggest that it is possible to modify dysphoric affect by altering the meaning of feelings

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1989.