The diploma thesis called "Ritual elements in the practices of Herbalife Independent Distributors" is focused on the manifestations of Randall Collins' interaction rituals on the example of multi-level marketing company - Herbalife. It tries to answer two questions: answer two questions: What does the Herbalife Independent Distributor community hold together? What motivates them to work, when everything is voluntary at Herbalife and they do not have a competitive driving force there? The connecting mechanism of the multi-level marketing structure and interaction rituals are practices of organizational culture. The most important are the physical meetings of members in which interaction rituals take place. By living interaction rituals, Herbalife members produce emotional energy, by which they empower the symbols of organization and the sense of group solidarity. Positive emotional energy has an impact on the cooperation of distributors with the organization, and it affects also their effort to achieve common goals.

This study examines the language used by independent distributors in Multi-Level Marketing companies (MLMs) when attempting to recruit new people into the business. Social media posts and messages were read and analysed to identify themes or categories within the data, which each detailed a means used by distributors to recruit new distributors or customers. The findings were then analysed in relation to Steven Hassan's BITE-model of authoritarian control; Robert Cialdini's principles of inlfuence; Roman Jakobson's pragmatic functions; and Roland Barthes thery of cultural. The findings showed that the most frequent tactic used by the distributors was different forms of emotional tactics. The distributors also used signifiers to evoke cultural myths regarding how one should live one's life and how their MLM could help people achieve that lifestyle. Lastly, questions were frequently used in order to prolong communication between distributor and prospective recruit or customer.

Abstract In this research we focus on MLM companies in Taiwan area, interrelationship between each direct sales and how their own characteristics affect business. Our goal is to understand the uplink and downlink interrelationship in order to improve the their relationship in direct sales companies. This will promote the uplink to help downlink into fast development state and improve the business. As for MLM system, every direct sale does not have legal contract with MLM Company and every marketing unit act as an independent unit. On the other hand, every direct sales requires other units for support and makeup the whole MLM system. Therefore, the relationship between uplink and downlink is the base and strength element of MLM system. Researchers discover that direct sales joins in the MLM system is based on product requirement market more than open market or potential market. Therefore, all those direct sales need to take product requirement market into concern. If the product has large requirement market then it will be easier for the direct sales to expend their MLM system. For those people who did not join into direct sale their direct downlink will be their classmates and friends. In long term direct sales marketing, classmates and friends market are not enough, we need to walk out and open stranger market. In order to gain new market we need to continuously build up new relationship with all kind of people and only this will continuously expend the direct sales market. After direct sales join the MLM system, during the interaction with uplink it will go through initial state, enhance state, stable state and independent state four different states. Every single state will affect the relationship between uplink and downlink on how they build up, maintain and expend. During the direct sales time period we need to think of different tactics base on each state in order to achieve successful direct sales marketing. During each state when we are the uplink then we need to think how to lead the downlink into the whole system and make them become one of the whole system. In order to build up the long term relationship between direct sales and direct sales system is based on trust and mutually beneficial. In direct sales market the relationship between uplink and downlink makeup the base strength of the whole direct sales system. Therefore, enhance the relationship between the uplink and downlink is the key element in successful direct sales market. When direct sales are leading all the downlink they need to use admiration and inspirer as enhance elements. Let downlink learn, grow and independent and lead into road of success. Direct sales market mainly focus on ¡§duplicate¡¨. Therefore, uplinks pass all kind of successful ideas into downlinks and build up the strength base on the interaction between uplinks and downlinks. This is the truth strength behind the MLM.

The aim of this thesis is to investigate the communicative and discursive practices used by Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) networks when marketing their network to women as both a business opportunity and as a sisterhood, in order to start and contribute to the conversation regarding the relatively unsupervised communicative practices and their potential effects of MLM distribution networks. By conducting an extensive qualitative analysis on eighteen group call videos posted publicly on YouTube by affiliates of six different MLM networks, this thesis examines the marketing practices used to appropriate feminist values in order to recruit women and sell products. The analysis is done through a theoretical framework of Feminist Media Theory with a focus on feminist values, femvertising, and corporate feminism, in combination with the concept Relational Agency. These theoretical frameworks are used to critically analyze the discursive practices used in the videos. The analysis shows that MLM contractors are utilizing discursive practices such as advertising feminist values to market products and opportunities to potential recruits and downlines. Some of the feminist values communicated are, for example, inclusivity, empowering messages, financial gain, and independency. The findings further suggests that the marketing practices used may have an effect on individuals involved, and on the greater feminist movement at large.

Issue of my Master{\crq}s work inclusive of questions consumers{\crq} cooperative and network marketing. This is very interesting and actual section, because both of these levels have been hiding large potential. They can bring out compelling alternative solution in contact with final consumer. The Work is focused on general analysis of the setting of network marketing and the setting of consumers{\crq} cooperative in the Czech republic. This analysis is completed with comparison of two concrete subjects and assets for final consumers. One of the components is also question form. This question form is based on questioning of two hundreds respondents. Main aims were to find out consumers view of network marketing and consumers{\crq} cooperative, how consumers trust these systems and how often they use it for shopping. Conclusion what I got from research is that consumers{\crq} cooperative is more popular, than network marketing. Due to wrong name of network marketing. That is also why the final consumer use consumers{\crq} cooperative more often for shopping, than network marketing. Main potential of consumers{\crq} cooperative and network marketing is based on the fact, that they can get final consumers to integrate chain. In that case, the consumer is supposed to participate in the co-creation of products and services.

The aim of the diploma thesis is to prepare a design of multi-level sales network information system for the company 1WAY COMPANY s.r.o. system will be designed with a maximum regard to the success of final solution and automation particular corporate processes. The work also describes company’s system requirements, implementation methods, budgeting and creating of service agreements. For the proper system functionality is needed to design a permission management included organization structure, Event-driven Process Chain and RACI responsibility matrix.

Phosphodiesterase 2A (PDE2A) is highly expressed in distinct areas of the brain, which are known to be related to neuropsychiatric diseases. The development of suitable PDE2A tracers for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) would permit the in vivo imaging of the PDE2A and evaluation of disease-mediated alterations of its expression. A series of novel fluorinated PDE2A inhibitors on the basis of a Benzoimidazotriazine (BIT) scaffold was prepared leading to a prospective inhibitor for further development of a PDE2A PET imaging agent. BIT derivatives (BIT1–9) were obtained by a seven-step synthesis route, and their inhibitory potency towards PDE2A and selectivity over other PDEs were evaluated. BIT1 demonstrated much higher inhibition than other BIT derivatives (82.9% inhibition of PDE2A at 10 nM). BIT1 displayed an IC50 for PDE2A of 3.33 nM with 16-fold selectivity over PDE10A. This finding revealed that a derivative bearing both a 2-fluoro-pyridin-4-yl and 2-chloro-5-methoxy-phenyl unit at the 8- and 1-position, respectively, appeared to be the most potent inhibitor. In vitro studies of BIT1 using mouse liver microsomes (MLM) disclosed BIT1 as a suitable ligand for 18F-labeling. Nevertheless, future in vivo metabolism studies are required.

Although disaster risk reduction is still not considered a priority by many countries and organisations, there is significant progress made towards the reduction of disaster risk. The experience of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR, 1990–1999) prompted a major conceptual shift from disaster response to disaster reduction underscoring the crucial role of human action (UNISDR, 2001:03). This circumstance led to the adoption of an International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (ISDR) in 1999 by the participants of the IDNDR Programme Forum. The adoption gave emphasis to the importance of a global strategy that encourages and facilitates concerted action to reduce risk and vulnerability to natural and related technological and environmental hazards. This research then focuses on the disaster risk reduction phenomenon and major or international initiatives and forums aimed at improving or raising the disaster risk reduction profile. It also focuses on disaster risk management in the South African context. In recent years, disaster risk reduction has grown in importance on the international agenda. This followed the prevalence of natural hazards such as floods, drought, earthquakes, tsunamis, as well as epidemics, which have had an increasing impact on humans, due to population growth, urbanization, rising poverty and the onset of global environmental changes. Aspects of environmental change include climate change, land degradation and deforestation. Practitioners and researchers widely acknowledge that poor planning, poverty and a range of other underlying factors create conditions of vulnerability that result in insufficient capacity or measures to reduce hazards‘ potentially negative consequences (IISD/UN/ISDR, 2007:01). It is in this light that in 2005 many governments around the world committed themselves to take action to reduce disaster risk, and thereby adopted a guiding document to reduce vulnerabilities to natural hazards, called the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). The HFA was adopted in January 2005 at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, in Kobe Hyogo, Japan by 168 States. The aim of the HFA is to assist the efforts of nations and communities to become more resilient to, and cope better, with the hazards that threaten their development gains with the overriding goal of achieving a substantial reduction in global disaster risk. It also emphasizes that disaster risk reduction is a central issue for development policies, in addition to being of interest to various science, humanitarian and environmental fields. To help attain the expected outcome, the HFA identified five specific priorities for action (PFAs) which are: (i) making disaster risk reduction a priority; (ii) improving risk information and early warning; (iii) building a culture of safety and resilience; (iv) reducing the risks in key sectors; and (v) strengthening preparedness for response. The Global Network of Civil Society Organisation for Disaster Risk Reduction (GNDR) which was launched in 2007 in Geneva, is a major international network of civil society organisations working to influence and implement disaster risk reduction policies and practice around the world. The major programme of the global network is to collect perspective for the local level as to how the HFA is progressing. The Views from the Frontline (VFL) is the first independent assessment project undertaken towards the implementation of the HFA at the local level and is led by the Global Network. The aim of this project is to measure the gap between policy formulation at international level with the realities of policy execution at local level and to deepen the communication and coordination between different stakeholders on disaster risk reduction by involving government organisation and communities at the local level. The VFL perspective is that nationally formulated policies are not generating widespread systematic changes in local practices. There is a concern that the current approach is top–down and engages minimally with affected communities and fails to address their needs and capacities (GNDR, 2008:01). The main objective of this research was to provide an overview of progress made in the implementation of the HFA at local level particularly in the Kabokweni Location. The approach adopted in this study is called 'the Views from the Frontline', and explores the extent of the actual progress made toward the implementation and impact of the HFA priorities at local level, namely the Kabokweni community in the Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM) situated in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. / Thesis (M. Development and management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Although disaster risk reduction is still not considered a priority by many countries and organisations, there is significant progress made towards the reduction of disaster risk. The experience of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR, 1990–1999) prompted a major conceptual shift from disaster response to disaster reduction underscoring the crucial role of human action (UNISDR, 2001:03). This circumstance led to the adoption of an International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (ISDR) in 1999 by the participants of the IDNDR Programme Forum. The adoption gave emphasis to the importance of a global strategy that encourages and facilitates concerted action to reduce risk and vulnerability to natural and related technological and environmental hazards. This research then focuses on the disaster risk reduction phenomenon and major or international initiatives and forums aimed at improving or raising the disaster risk reduction profile. It also focuses on disaster risk management in the South African context. In recent years, disaster risk reduction has grown in importance on the international agenda. This followed the prevalence of natural hazards such as floods, drought, earthquakes, tsunamis, as well as epidemics, which have had an increasing impact on humans, due to population growth, urbanization, rising poverty and the onset of global environmental changes. Aspects of environmental change include climate change, land degradation and deforestation. Practitioners and researchers widely acknowledge that poor planning, poverty and a range of other underlying factors create conditions of vulnerability that result in insufficient capacity or measures to reduce hazards‘ potentially negative consequences (IISD/UN/ISDR, 2007:01). It is in this light that in 2005 many governments around the world committed themselves to take action to reduce disaster risk, and thereby adopted a guiding document to reduce vulnerabilities to natural hazards, called the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). The HFA was adopted in January 2005 at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, in Kobe Hyogo, Japan by 168 States. The aim of the HFA is to assist the efforts of nations and communities to become more resilient to, and cope better, with the hazards that threaten their development gains with the overriding goal of achieving a substantial reduction in global disaster risk. It also emphasizes that disaster risk reduction is a central issue for development policies, in addition to being of interest to various science, humanitarian and environmental fields. To help attain the expected outcome, the HFA identified five specific priorities for action (PFAs) which are: (i) making disaster risk reduction a priority; (ii) improving risk information and early warning; (iii) building a culture of safety and resilience; (iv) reducing the risks in key sectors; and (v) strengthening preparedness for response. The Global Network of Civil Society Organisation for Disaster Risk Reduction (GNDR) which was launched in 2007 in Geneva, is a major international network of civil society organisations working to influence and implement disaster risk reduction policies and practice around the world. The major programme of the global network is to collect perspective for the local level as to how the HFA is progressing. The Views from the Frontline (VFL) is the first independent assessment project undertaken towards the implementation of the HFA at the local level and is led by the Global Network. The aim of this project is to measure the gap between policy formulation at international level with the realities of policy execution at local level and to deepen the communication and coordination between different stakeholders on disaster risk reduction by involving government organisation and communities at the local level. The VFL perspective is that nationally formulated policies are not generating widespread systematic changes in local practices. There is a concern that the current approach is top–down and engages minimally with affected communities and fails to address their needs and capacities (GNDR, 2008:01). The main objective of this research was to provide an overview of progress made in the implementation of the HFA at local level particularly in the Kabokweni Location. The approach adopted in this study is called 'the Views from the Frontline', and explores the extent of the actual progress made toward the implementation and impact of the HFA priorities at local level, namely the Kabokweni community in the Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM) situated in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. / Thesis (M. Development and management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

DIAMONDS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION -- D.I.C. a.s. is Czech company using network marketing model to sell its own diamond jewelry as well as loose diamonds. The purpose of this thesis was to analyze Russian market especially political, economic, social and cultural and other characteristics with regard to expansion of D.I.C. to Russia. Furthermore, the purpose was to evaluate Russian diamonds market potential and perform competition analysis. For purpose of the thesis PEST analysis, microenvironment analysis and SWOT analysis were conducted. Based on results of the analyses, practical advices for D.I.C. were presented.