Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 1-3).

In recent decades, the built environment has become a political device in new ways. To attend to these particularities, a broadly defined post-humanism has reshaped the way that geographers and other researchers think about what matters in everyday life and what those materials have to do with the question of subjectivity. The critical insights of the "cultural turn" have been updated with reference to the many ways that landscapes and built environments are always embodied experiences that emerge in relation to broader non-human and technological environments. The geographies of consumption, in particular, have been strongly impacted by new technologies that govern the flow of commodities into new spaces, including our everyday lives. This dissertation draws on recent theories of embodiment-including affect and emotion-to explore the politics of the new technological consumer landscapes that have proliferated world wide in the second half of the twentieth century. In Latin America, this expansion was made possible through militarized interventions during periods of dictatorship strongly linked to the geopolitics of the Cold War. Taking Chile as an exemplary case of a rapidly emerging mass consumer society, this dissertation charts the expansion of a dominant sector of society (retail) into new territory, the Chiloé archipelago in southern Chile. The embattled "Mall Paseo Chiloé" offers up an opportunity to explore how embodied feelings are implicated in the production of new consumer landscapes through affective, emotive and non-human interventions.

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Housing Management

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Housing Management

The modern consumer expects a consumption experience with both hedonic and utilitarian rewards during a single visit to the mall. The orchestrating of both hedonic and utilitarian benefits in one visit challenges mall management and retailers to deliver the maximum shopping experience. This study seeks to reveal relationships among six variables: demographic characteristics, mall shopping orientation, mall perception, hedonic satisfaction, utilitarian satisfaction, and mall consumption. The intercept survey was conducted at a major entertainment-themed mall in north Texas. Multiple regression analyses (N = 202) indicate that demographic characteristics and mall shopping orientation were significant predictors of mall perception. Also, two mall perception factors (Sensation and Physical Environment) were predictors of hedonic and utilitarian mall shopping satisfaction. However, hedonic and utilitarian mall shopping satisfaction were found not to predict mall consumption in terms of cross-shopping, money spent, and time spent.

Thesis (MBA.) --University of Limpopo, 2017 / The research was qualitative, where groups of restaurants managers/owners were interviewed in the three Polokwane Malls namely Limpopo Mall, Savannah Mall and Mall of the North. The purpose of the interviews was to find out what customers complain about in restaurants. To find how the customers in restaurants lodge their complaints; how the businesses deal with complaints; how customers bring forth their complaints in different ways; and to identify which groups complain the most. Further, to find out how restaurant owners handle customer complaints and to whom customers lodge those complaints, and the ways which restaurants use to respond to the customers’ complaints. The research results show that restaurant customers complain mostly verbally to the managers. Females are the ones complaining more than their male counterparts. Levels of education make no difference to how customers complain. Waiters need to render quality service as product knowledge is not the only product customers prefer; they actually value service more. The study recommends that restaurants need to pay careful attention to services such as a clean eating area to avoid complaints as most complaints come about this area; verbal and nonverbal skills of employees should be developed in order to avoid complaints from customers. Managers should be equipped to handle customers’ complaints as they are the people to whom such complaints are addressed and waiters/waitress should be made aware that customers are important and their complaints are always valued in the business in order to improve service

A multidisciplinary literature survey revealed that copolymeric nanoparticles could be applied in various technologies such as the production of paint, adhesives, packaging material and lately especially drug delivery systems. The specialized application and investigation of copolymers in drug delivery resulted in the synthesis of two series of copolymeric materials, i.e. poly(styrene-co-methyl methacrylate) (P(St-co-MMA)) and poly(styrene-co-ethyl methacrylate) (P(St-co-EMA)) were synthesized via the technique of o/w microemulsion copolymerization. These copolymers have not as yet been utilized to their full potential in the development of new drug delivery systems. However the corresponding hydrophobic homopolymer poly(styrene) (PS) and the hydrophilic homopolymer poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) are known to be biocompatible. Blending of homopolymers could result in novel applications, however is virtually impossible due to their unfavorable mixing entropies. The immiscibility challenge was overcome by the synthesis of copolymers that combined the properties of the immiscible homopolymers. The synthesized particles were analyzed by gel permeation chromatography combined with multi-angle laser light scattering (GPC-MALLS) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). These characterizations revealed crucial information to better understand the synthesis process and particle properties i.e. molecular weight, nanoparticle size and chemical composition of the materials. Additionally, GPC-MALLS revealed the copolymer chain conformation. These characterizations ultimately guided the selection of appropriate copolymer nanoparticles to develop a controlled-release drug delivery system. The selected copolymers were dissolved in a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent, tetrahydrofuran (THF) together with a drug, rifampin. Solvent casting of this dispersion resulted in the evaporation of the solvent and assembly of numerous microscale copolymer capsules. The rifampin molecules were captured in these microcapsules through a process of phase separation and coacervation. These microcapsules finally sintered to produce a multi-layer film with an unusual honeycomb structure, bridging yet another size scale hierarchy. Characterization of these delivery systems revealed that both series of copolymer materials produced films capable of controlling drug release and that could also potentially prevent biofilm adhesion. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

An average American consumes 52 kg of Frozen food, while an European consumes 40 kg, and a Japanese consume 12 kg. Compared to these advanced nations, China¡¦s consumer behavior and power can be viewed as uncultivated and full of potential. Thus, taking in China¡¦s long culinary history and long tradition of its cuisine, if food technology can be integrated into these specialties, there will be a bright future for China¡¦s frozen food market. This report collects its data from Access Asia Limited: Frozen Food In China Market Analysis and from focusing on frozen prepared food , investigates the growth, size, selection and advantage of the frozen food market in China The city of Shanghai is the most prosperous, goverened and educated city in China. With a well developed infrastructure and modernized malls, Shanghai provides the best environment for fostering a frozen food market. Thus, this report picks Shanghai as the main city of observation and arrives at the following conclusions ¡G 1. The Frozen Food Market in Shanghai will enjoy a promising 5% growth rate, a potential market for any new investors . 2. From observing the sales of dumplings and meat , one notices that frozen cooked food will enjoy a bigger market share because it meets the consumer¡¦s need of basic nutrition intake . 3. Sanitation and safety are two primary concerns on the consumer. Thus establishing a good brand image is vital to any company¡¦s success. Selling products through supermarket is also a crucial channel that vendors need to establish . 4. Due to the common use of microwave in the common household, microwavable frozen food not only provides variation but is also convenient for the consumer, thus raising its overall value. A majority of the consumer believe that microwavable frozen food can maintain a dish¡¦s original flavor while saving time. As this market is merely in its fledgling state, it is advised that all companies should pay attention to this market .

This research explores the current situation of the Sanitary Provision in medium to large shopping malls. It outlines the develop process on the Sanitary Provision Ratio in Hong Kong, the History, Development and the Current Situation. This research also studies how the relationships between sanitary provisions and the operation / performance of shopping malls. The research involves a review of relationship between the revenue or the customer satisfying rate and the sanitary provision. The researcher tries to make suggestions for sanitary provision in future shopping mall and compare the benefit with the falter reasons. The benefit is quantified to the revenue & customer service in particular shopping mall while comparing to the expense on offering a better sanitary provision facility. After the comparison, suggestions would be drawn on the form of sanitary provision in the future shopping mall in order to achieve a balance between Cost (extra installation on the sanitary provision) and Benefit (Good impression from the customer and Shopping Mall Revenue). / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

Hong Kong is an international metropolis and “Shopping Paradise”. Therefore, shopping in Hong Kong becomes one of the popular and important customary activities for the people. To compete with the keen and rapid change of market competition and shoppers’ living style and prevent old and deteriorated mall image, it is important for mall owner and operator to upkeep mall’s competitiveness by refurbishment work and repositioning exercises. To examine the repositioning strategies of Shopping Mall in Hong Kong, case study of New Town Plaza would be the selected mall in this research for further evaluation. Face to face interviews were conducted with Shoppers and Tenants respectively regarding their perception of mall image and competiveness attributes, including mall image, shopping environment and accessibility attributes among selected shopping mall-New Town Plaza before and after refurbishment work. At last, it found that mall repositioning exercise had drawn a great influence on different stakeholders. Based on research result, it showed that interviewees generally recognized that brand image of tenants, mall’s image and competiveness were improved after mall refurbishment. Also, more high-ended shoppers were attracted to visit and shop in the mall. As comparing with before refurbishment work, Interviewees were visited more and stayed longer due to its freshness image and modern design. Although mall refurbishment work and repositioning exercise brings lots of positive feedbacks for different stakeholders and extend the product life of the mall, it does not represent such exercise appropriate for applying in all shopping mall. Therefore, mall owner or operator was reminded to take further consideration for planning such work and finally recommendations were suggested for them in considering the repositioning and refurbishment work in the future too. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management