The purpose of this study is to provide effective strategies and suggestions of models for self-study tools suitable to fifth and sixth graders, by leading fifth and sixth grade students to establish hierarchal polycalve and dichotomous plant keys through observation, description, comparison, and synthesis in the activity-based courses of observation and classification of plant leaves, and by analyzing children¡¦s level of form cognition and capability of classification via children¡¦s observation records, the taxonomy model, and the contents of keys. In addition, this study aimed to realize students¡¦ learning difficulties regarding plants through their work, comments, interviews and the quantitative data. Also, by means of the reforms to relevant teaching methods and teaching material, this study showed how students could have a better learning experience with plants. Based on the quantitative and qualitative data, the major findings of this study are summarized as follows: 1. Observation capability: The tactile sense was the important medium by which primary school students explore the world, with leaf texture in the highest observational record. Visually, students had better observation capabilities for characteristics of larger-scale forms. 2. Classification model: The standards that students most commonly used were ¡§color,¡¨ ¡§vein,¡¨ ¡§margin,¡¨ and ¡§shape.¡¨ The results of classification were more consistent with the last three standards, and the results of classification in groups were especially similar when proper morphological terms were used to express classified items. It was thus clear that morphological terminology can help students to classify plants. 3. Plant key: When devising the plant key suited to primary school students, it was better to use the polyclave method in one searching stage to show different characteristics in the same region, and to use the dichotomous method to show similar characteristics that are difficult to distinguish. When expressing options using clip art and proper terms simultaneously, students exhibited the best comprehension. 4. Studying attitude According to the quantitative data, activity-based courses only raised students¡¦ learning interest a little. However, interviews and sharing of study experiences revealed that learning by doing can improve their observational capabilities and learning memories. In addition, students would be more concerned for the relationship between human beings and the environment.

Avhandling--Göteborg, 1999. / Bibliogr. p.221-227. Index. Résumé en anglais.

Thesis (M.S. in Computer Science)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2004. / Thesis advisor(s): Cynthia E. Irvine, J.D. Fulp, Glenn R. Cook. Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-80). Also available online.

The research question is formulated as “what are the key success factors making a mobile game become a big success in China? ” to view the key success factors behind new launched mobile games and how company’s business model and marketing strategy that bring them into and help them succeed in the China market.   A qualitative method with the deductive approach has been using in this paper to be able to answer and interpret the studied questions. Four in-depth interviews were conducted to collect the primary data, which have been following as the purpose is to do a cross-case analysis to identify the similarities and difference of each company behave their business model and marketing strategy, to contribute game success in China market.   The main factors contributing to the success of mobile game in China market including internally strategic factors and externally tactic factors. Technical skill and resource, R&D ability and market knowledge and experience as the internal key success factors behind mobile game success in China. The mobile game companies use localization, wide distribution channel collaboration and social integration to suit the market needs and requirements.   From the results of the study have been identified to as to how is the business model for the China mobile game market. Through collaborating with abroad local distribution channel can increase their knowledge capacity of the local market to create a better value proposition. In China mobile game market, social integration and cross promotion can be seen as very important and through collaborating firms can work around these factors and create, capture and deliver better value to the customers.

Att skapa starka och långsiktiga relationer till sina kunder har för företag blivit en nödvändighet i den industriella marknadsföringen, där relationerna i sig själva kan ses som den viktigaste tillgången för verksamheten. Från området inom relationsmarknadsföring har Key Account Management vuxit fram och blivit ett populärt begrepp, där en koncentrerad mängd av företagets kunder prioriteras högre än övriga. Syftet med denna uppsats är att beskriva och konkretisera det potentiella värde, sett som mellanskillnaden mellan fördelar och nackdelar, som skapas för det säljande tjänsteföretaget i användningen av KAM. Uppsatsen utgår från en kvalitativ ansats där en komparativ studie har genomförts genom att undersöka företag som uttalat använder Key Account Management mot företag som ej använder KAM, samt kundföretag. För att få tillgång till empririn har sex stycken intervjuer med företag genomförts. Två som har KAM, två som inte har KAM. Dessutom har intervjuer utförts med kund till ett KAM-företag, samt en kund till ett företag som inte använder KAM. Genom att ha en stödjande organisation, fyra centrala delar i sitt KAM, kompetenta Key Account Managers, samt aktiva kunder är mjuka värden såsom förbättrad relation och kundförståelse givet. Dessa kan i sin tur leda till andra mjuka och hårda värden och därför ökad lönsamhet. KAM är däremot en investering som tar mycket resurser, samtidigt som flertalet potentiella nackdelar är tänkbara. Värdet har i denna studie identifierats som skillnaden mellan tänkbara fördelar och nackdelar, men detta skiljer sig åt från företag till företag vilket gör att det faktiska värdet varierar. / To build strong and long-lasting customer relationships has become a necessity in industrial marketing, whereat the relationships in itself can be viewed as the most important asset for the company. Key Account Management has its roots in relationship marketing and has grown in popularity the past decades. By selecting and focusing primarily on a few key customers, which the company deems to be the most important, Key Account Management is purposed to generate and locate value. The purpose of this paper is to describe and substantiate the potential value, seen as the difference between advantages and disadvantages, that Key Account Management may provide for the selling company. The study has a qualitative approach consisting of six interviews. Two companies with Key Account Management, two companies without KAM and two customer companies were interviewed in a comparative design. One of the customers had a relationship to one of the companies with KAM, whilst the other one did not. By having a supporting organization, four critical aspects to the companies KAM, a qualified Key Account Manager, and active customers, soft values as improved relationships and customer understanding are guaranteed. These can in turn enable access to other soft and hard values that leads to higher profit. KAM is however an investment which occupies a lot of resources, alongside with creating potential disadvantages. The value has in this study been identified as the difference between potential advantages and disadvantages, but these differ from company to company which in turn makes the actual value from KAM various.

On September 15, 2008, Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy causing the meltdown of the fourth-largest American investment bank that shocked the financial industry and caused major damage to the world’s economy. This paper examines the situation leading to the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and identifies the key publics in the financial crisis. In addition, this paper examines the communications and relationships Lehman Brothers had with its key publics during the crisis from the perspective of the Excellence theory. The facts and evidence of the case of Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy that are presented in this paper are sourced from news releases, congressional hearing reports, examiner’s reports on Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy filing, Lehman Brothers’ earning reports, conference calls, and press releases. Finally, this paper will provide recommendations on dealing with crises based on Excellence theory and the opinions of public relations practitioners. / text

Daily advancements in technology influence many aspects of society. In today’s political and economic era, the need for secure, computerized convenience is apparent. Cryptosystems play a major role for everyone, from an individual making an online purchase to the government communicating with an ally during wartime. As technology advances, so do cryptosystems. The author of this paper discusses different types of cryptosystems, from substitution ciphers to public key cryptography, and introduces the mathematical foundations of such systems. / text

Urban development is of particular concern in the management of endangered Key deer (Odocoileous virginianus clavium) because highway mortality is the greatest single cause of deer mortality (≈ 50%), and the rural community of Big Pine Key, Florida constitutes the majority of Key deer habitat. Study objectives were to provide and synthesize management strategies useful in the recovery of Key deer. Specifically, I (1) used simulation modeling to evaluate effects of fetal sex ratios (FSR) on Key deer population structure, (2) evaluated the most efficient and socially acceptable urban deer capture methods, (3) evaluated changes in fawn survival, mortality agents, and range size between 1968-2002, and (4) conducted an ethnography of the human population on Big Pine Key to ascertain cultural dynamics within the community and provide guidelines for community based management of Key deer. Key deer were radio-collared (n = 335) as part of 2 separate field studies (1968-1972, 1998-2002), and mortality and survey estimates were collected throughout the entire period (1966-2002). During 1990-2002, I used an ethnographic approach to analyze the conflict surrounding Key deer management and explored how conflict and moral culture applied to this endangered species. These data were used to address my study objectives. I found the most commonly cited FSR (2.67:1, male:female) for Florida Key deer to be inaccurate. A male biased FSR of 1.45:1 was more probable. Modified drop and drive nets were appropriate methods for urban deer capture because they are passive, silent, fast, generally accepted by the public, and yielded low mortality and injury rates. Between 1968-2002 Key deer fawn survival increased in tandem with human development while range sizes decreased. This suggests a positive, but not sustainable, relationship between fawn survival and development. I found disputants on Big Pine Key divided into 2 moral cultures, 1 grounded in stewardship and the other in private property rights. Successful management strategies for the Key deer require understanding and addressing issues at several levels including: Key deer demographics, community perspectives, and cultural norms. Collectively this information can be used by wildlife managers to improve the management and recovery of Key deer.

The issue of performance indicators for colleges and universities in Ontario was first raised in the early 1990s by the Ministry of Education and Training’s Task Force on University Accountability. The decision to develop and use Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) was made in the 1990s (Ministry of Education and Training, 1998). The three KPIs for Ontario universities are Graduation Rates, Employments Rates, and OSAP Loan Default Rates. The declared purposes of the publication of the KPIs evolved over time. Initially, they were to enable parents and students with data to inform post-secondary education choice. The purposes then became benchmarks without any clear indication of what constituted satisfactory or unsatisfactory performance. Performance funding based on KPIs introduced a third phase. Finally, they were to influence the universities' programming behaviour without government’s direct intervention. The overall intent was to help universities improve their performance (MTCU, 2012). My study focused on the impact of KPIs on Ontario universities 10 years after they were instituted. This exploratory and descriptive study examined the history of why and how KPIs were introduced in Ontario and the perception of 12 key informants of 11 participating universities regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of the existing KPIs. The study sought to identify areas of concern of the participants and their suggestions on how the KPIs can be altered to improve their effectiveness. The findings provide an understanding of the impact of the KPIs and suggested alternatives, and provide valuable information and a potential source for evidence-based MTCU policy decisions that impact Ontario’s universities and their stakeholders. The findings suggest that a review and redefinition of the theory of accountability as applied in Ontario universities are required as the initial interpretation of accountability defined by the three KPIs is too narrow to be pragmatically useful. Most university participants perceived that the current KPIs are not having the intended impact. I recommend that both parties work together and be clear on each other’s goals and expectations to develop effective measures on institutional performance and accountability, and to satisfy the needs of the government, the universities and the public.

The issue of performance indicators for colleges and universities in Ontario was first raised in the early 1990s by the Ministry of Education and Training’s Task Force on University Accountability. The decision to develop and use Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) was made in the 1990s (Ministry of Education and Training, 1998). The three KPIs for Ontario universities are Graduation Rates, Employments Rates, and OSAP Loan Default Rates. The declared purposes of the publication of the KPIs evolved over time. Initially, they were to enable parents and students with data to inform post-secondary education choice. The purposes then became benchmarks without any clear indication of what constituted satisfactory or unsatisfactory performance. Performance funding based on KPIs introduced a third phase. Finally, they were to influence the universities' programming behaviour without government’s direct intervention. The overall intent was to help universities improve their performance (MTCU, 2012). My study focused on the impact of KPIs on Ontario universities 10 years after they were instituted. This exploratory and descriptive study examined the history of why and how KPIs were introduced in Ontario and the perception of 12 key informants of 11 participating universities regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of the existing KPIs. The study sought to identify areas of concern of the participants and their suggestions on how the KPIs can be altered to improve their effectiveness. The findings provide an understanding of the impact of the KPIs and suggested alternatives, and provide valuable information and a potential source for evidence-based MTCU policy decisions that impact Ontario’s universities and their stakeholders. The findings suggest that a review and redefinition of the theory of accountability as applied in Ontario universities are required as the initial interpretation of accountability defined by the three KPIs is too narrow to be pragmatically useful. Most university participants perceived that the current KPIs are not having the intended impact. I recommend that both parties work together and be clear on each other’s goals and expectations to develop effective measures on institutional performance and accountability, and to satisfy the needs of the government, the universities and the public.