<p><em>Utbytesstudier utomlands sägs öka studenters kreativitet. Kreativitet och innovation, framför allt kreativa medarbetare är en viktig faktor för att företag ska vara framgångsrika i dagens allt hårdare konkurrens. Studenter inom företagsekonomi är framtida anställda och företagsledare, därför är det viktigt att undersöka om utlandsstudier verkligen ökar kreativiteten. Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka utlandsstudiernas påverkan på företagsekonomistudenters personliga egenskaper med koppling till kreativitet. Vi undersöker påverkan på kreativitet med hjälp av Big Five Inventory kategorierna noggrannhet och öppenhet då dessa personegenskaper anses påverka kreativiteten.  Resultat från genomförd internetenkät (N=111, svarsfrekvens=15,5%) visar på en ökning av noggrannhet men inte av öppenhet. Slutsatsen är att företagsekonomistudenters kreativitet förblir opåverkad till följd av utlandsstudierna. </em></p>

Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between broad and narrow personality traits and life satisfaction for college-aged and adult populations. Hypotheses were several-fold: first, that personality measures would be predictive of life satisfaction; second, that there would be differences in the correlations of Big Five personality traits and life satisfaction for both age groups; and third, that there would be differences between both age groups in the amount of variance in life satisfaction accounted for by three narrow personality traits, i.e., Optimism, Tough-Mindedness, and Work Drive. Archival data were used to compare an undergraduate sample at a Southeastern U.S. university (n=4844), and an adult sample from a database representing working adults (n=7633). Correlation and multiple regression analyses were used for each age group in examining the validity of Big Five and narrow traits and life satisfaction. A Fischer’s z score was used to determine significant differences in the correlations by age. The Big Five and narrow traits were found to be predictive of life satisfaction for both groups, with Emotional Stability and Optimism showing the highest correlation for both age groups. There were significant differences in correlations between the age groups on measures of Extraversion (z=4.64, p<.001), Agreeableness (z=1.92, p=.05), Conscientiousness (z=8.18, p<.001), Openness (z=2.44, p=.01), Work Drive (z=12.82, p<.001), and Tough-Mindedness (z=-2.87, p<.005). Results were discussed in terms of comparing the predictive validity of personality traits and life satisfaction between the two age groups. Study limitations and directions for future research were noted.

<p>Several lines of cellular and physiological evidence have suggested the presence of a novel class of systemically mobile plant molecules that are recognized by antibodies generated against vertebrate atrial natriuretic peptides (ANPs). Functional characterization of these immunoanalogues, referred to as immunoreactive plant natriuretic peptides (irPNPs) or plant natriuretic peptides (PNPs), has shown that they play important roles in a number of cellular processes crucial for plant growth and maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Although the various biological roles of PNPs in plants are known, their exact mode of action remains elusive. To elucidate the mechanisms of action for these immunoanalogues, we have prepared a biologically active recombinant PNP from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtPNP-A) and the biological activity was demonstrated by showing its ability to induce water uptake into Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts. In addition, the molecule was shown to downregulate photosynthesis while at the same time up-regulating respiration, transpiration as well as net water uptake and retention capacities in the sage Plectranthus ecklonii. Further analysis of the recombinant AtPNP-A indicated that the peptide can induce systemic response signalling though the phloem. A recombinant Arabidopsis wall associated kinase-like protein (AtWAKL10) that has a domain organization resembling that of vertebrate natriuretic peptide (NP) receptors was also partially characterized as a possible receptor for the recombinant AtPNP-A. Vertebrate NP receptors contain an extracellular ligand-binding domain and an intracellular guanylate cyclase (GC)/kinase domain and signal through the activity of their GC domain that is capable of generating intracellular cGMP from GTP. The structural resemblance of AtWAKL10 to vertebrate NP receptors could suggest a functional homology with receptor molecules and it is conceivable that such a receptor may recognize PNPs as ligands. The characterization of the recombinant AtWAKL10 showed that the molecule functions as both a GC and a kinase in vitro. This strengthened the suggestion that AtWAKL10 could be a possible AtPNP-A receptor especially considering the fact that AtPNP-A applications to plant cells also<br /> trigger cGMP transients. Furthermore, a bioinformatic analysis of the functions of AtPNP-A and AtWAKL10 has inferred both molecules in plant pathogen responses and defense mechanisms, thus indirectly functionally linking the two proteins.</p>

Utbytesstudier utomlands sägs öka studenters kreativitet. Kreativitet och innovation, framför allt kreativa medarbetare är en viktig faktor för att företag ska vara framgångsrika i dagens allt hårdare konkurrens. Studenter inom företagsekonomi är framtida anställda och företagsledare, därför är det viktigt att undersöka om utlandsstudier verkligen ökar kreativiteten. Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka utlandsstudiernas påverkan på företagsekonomistudenters personliga egenskaper med koppling till kreativitet. Vi undersöker påverkan på kreativitet med hjälp av Big Five Inventory kategorierna noggrannhet och öppenhet då dessa personegenskaper anses påverka kreativiteten.  Resultat från genomförd internetenkät (N=111, svarsfrekvens=15,5%) visar på en ökning av noggrannhet men inte av öppenhet. Slutsatsen är att företagsekonomistudenters kreativitet förblir opåverkad till följd av utlandsstudierna.

¡@¡@Owing to the entry into WTO, which requires an open insurance market, and the legislation of the six ¡§Financial Holding Company Acts¡¨ that allows cross deals across different financial sections and multi-channeled selling, Taiwan¡¦s insurance market, of which the ratio of life insurance arrived at 182% in 2006, is squeezing the marketing space of the local life insurance agents, frustrating and driving them away. ¡@¡@This research aims primarily to investigate the relationships of the specific personality traits of a life insurance agent, his/her attributional style of rejection and selling performance, and hopefully to offer tools in selecting potential life insurance agents. At the same time, this research hopes to render stimulating, training and helpful devices for the practicing agents of various types of personality. ¡@¡@The measurement scales in this research paper consist of five questionnaires about personality traits and attributional style of rejection, and the voluntary participants are agents working for a life insurance company of which annual performance is among the top five, according to the database of the Taiwan Insurance Institute, while collecting their annual performance data as the dependent variable. Three hundred copies of the questionnaires are distributed and there are 125 effective copies returned, at a ratio of 42%. The statistical approaches applied are correlation analysis and regression analysis in support of the hypothesis. ¡@¡@By correlation analysis and regression analysis, the conclusions reached are: 1, The extroversion construction in the ¡§Five-Factor of Personality Traits¡¨ interacts positively with the policy sale and the first-year premium collection, which reaches the level of significance. It shows that the better an agent¡¦s extroversion construction is, the better performance of his/her policy sale and first-year premium collection will be. 2, The stability of an agent¡¦s attributional style of rejection interacts negatively with his/her policy sale and first-year premium collection, which reaches the level of significance. It shows that the more stable an agent¡¦s attributional style of rejection is, which means he/she takes the rejection of the client as something normal, the worse performance of his/her policy sale and first-year premium collection will be. ¡@¡@The managerial implications and the following researching suggestions are also discussed in this research paper. Key words: The Five-Factor of Personality Traits, the Attributional Style of Rejection,Performance

Small and medium enterprises play an important role in the development of a country. The growth of SMEs is also important for the world economy which has been widely discussed in recent years. Although the growth of small firm is a well known topic in theoretical research, still there are some research gaps that need to be filled. There is no single multidimensional theory which would embrace all possible approaches; most studies on SMEs’ growth examine the growth factors one by one. (Wasilczuk, 2000) Nor is there any single theory that can adequately explain small business growth due to the heterogeneity of SMEs. Moreover, growth itself is difficult to measure, and can be measured either objectively or subjectively. (Delmar, 1996) Therefore, this study incorporates the resource-based view, as well as the consideration of SMEs’ fives stages model to examine the growth factor of SMEs. The resource-based view provides a unified approach in the conceptualization of the resource analysis in the small firm. The five stages model shows the position of SMEs current growth stage. By analyzing SMEs’ key resources (tangible and intangible resources), indentifying their growth stages, SMEs can find out the critical resources which influence their business growth. As a conclusion, the study finds that each resource has its importance in different stages. Tangible resources, such as cash and physical resources are critical in the start-up firms, while intangible resources are prioritized in the success and resource maturity stages. In order to gain the competitive advantages, SMEs should fully develop the unique and inimitable resources such as the brand, technology, culture and reputations.

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Date: May 30, 2011 Program: MIMA- International Marketing Course Name: Master Thesis (EFO705) Title: The Study of Consumer’s Post-Purchase Evaluation toward Brand Equity of Five Stars Hotels in Thailand Research Problem: What are the characteristics of brand equity of five star luxury hotels in Thailand and which components of brand equity are the majority concerns from customers’ evaluation? Purpose: The study aims to investigate and analyze the interrelationship of brand equity of five stars hotels in Bangkok, Thailand and post-purchase evaluation in order to provide valuable information on how five stars luxury hotels in Thailand can successfully and appropriately exploit the hotel brand equity so as to create the branding strategy and to create a competitive advantage in the long run. Method: Qualitative approach was used to observe the data in the form of content analysis. While, the quantitative approach is employed in order to summarize the finding result. The data collection, the secondary source is the heart of this research such as hotel reviews, brand equity books and related articles. Conclusion: The empirical findings from hotel guest’s post-purchase evaluation reveal the most significant components of brand equity for five stars Thai hotel industry which are perceived quality and brand loyalty. Whereas, brand awareness and brand association are considered the least significant of all brand equity components from customer’s perception. Keywords: Brand equity, Brand loyalty, Brand awareness, Perceived quality, Brand association, Five Stars Hotel in Thailand, Thai Hotels Industry