by Chan Ka Wah. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1984. / Bibliography: leaves 175-184.

Huang, Xun. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-87). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Alfred P. Sloan School of Management, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND DEWEY / Bibliography: leaves 74-75. / by Peter Manning Guadagni. / M.S.

The number of citizens living in urban areas worldwide is predicted to increase in future decades. However, this projected increase is mainly due to the magnetic power of so-called megacities. Worldwide, many intermediate cities, especially in the most developed countries, have had considerable population losses in the past decades and this trend is expected to continue. When a city loses a high percentage of its population within a short period of time, the traces of that loss become strongly apparent. Abandonment is followed by dereliction, such that the urban fabric can become randomly punctuated with uninhabited spaces where previously present human constructions have been destroyed, and social instability can ensue. The attraction of the city to newcomers then becomes increasingly compromised, and the cycle of decline is harder to overcome. Some cities have developed strategies to redress the situation, such as restricting urban sprawl, demolitions, urban agriculture, rightsizing infrastructure or permitting biodiversity sanctuaries. However, few academic studies have focused on the ways that residents, and potential newcomers, perceive this situation and react to it. Obtaining a deeper understanding of residents¹ perceptions might allow the development of targeted strategies to promote healthier, more attractive and safer environments for these communities, as well as enhancing their potential for newcomers. The research aim, therefore, is to understand the key factors that determine the attractiveness of these urban abandoned spaces for different stakeholder groups, namely, residents of depopulating, and growing, neighbourhoods, and house searchers. Three different methods were used sequentially to explore this quest: interviews with experts, focus groups and conjoint analysis. Conjoint analysis is one of the most robust methods to explore people¹s preferences, by presenting respondents with possible future change scenarios. The study was undertaken in Lisbon (PT) and Genoa (IT), two southern European cities that have experienced population decline, in some areas, in the last three decades. The results of the interviews and focus groups, for both cities, show that while people are naturally resilient to de-densification scenarios, one key concern, when discussing their neighbourhoods in this context, is related to community support. The results from the conjoint analysis corroborate the importance of having a close community for people living in depopulating environments, namely, in Lisbon. The results also show that good quality green spaces are an attraction factor for house searchers. These differences show how the provision of social support in depopulating urban environments might be a determining factor in the stabilization of these neighbourhoods and also, how the presence of good quality green spaces might enhance its attractiveness to newcomers. Social support, therefore, should be given serious consideration in any political, social, architectural intervention within depopulating contexts. Moreover, the presence of green spaces of better quality might be not only a key factor in attracting new residents, but simultaneously, play a crucial role in enhancing the physical and mental health of particularly vulnerable communities, and enhance social interaction.

by Leona Tam Wing Yin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-122). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.vi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vii / Chapter Chapter I: --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.0 --- Overview --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Objective --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- The Service Switching Behavior Model --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- The Design --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4 --- Significance of This Study --- p.5 / Chapter 1.5 --- Outline of This Study --- p.5 / Chapter Chapter II: --- REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND MODEL DEVELOPMENT --- p.7 / Chapter 2.0 --- Overview --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1 --- Review of Relevant Studies in Services --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Unique Characteristics of Services --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Classification of Services --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Measurement of Service Quality --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Review of Past Studies in Service Switching Behavior --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Characteristics of Service Switchers --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2 --- Limitations of Past Studies --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3 --- The Conceptual Model --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- The Conceptual Framework --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Definition of Constructs --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Causal Relationships among Constructs in the Conceptual Model and Hypotheses --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4 --- Summary --- p.32 / Chapter Chapter III: --- METHODOLOGY --- p.33 / Chapter 3.0 --- Overview --- p.33 / Chapter 3.1 --- Research Methodology --- p.33 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Research Strategies and Three-Horned Dilemma --- p.33 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- The Research Strategy Chosen for This Study --- p.34 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- The Design --- p.35 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- The Sample --- p.36 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- The Data Collection Procedure --- p.37 / Chapter 3.2 --- Operationalization of Constructs --- p.38 / Chapter 3.3 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.43 / Chapter 3.4 --- Research Activities --- p.45 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Pretest for Selection of Services for the Study --- p.45 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Pretest of the Questionnaire --- p.48 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- The Main Study --- p.48 / Chapter 3.5 --- Summary --- p.48 / Chapter Chapter IV: --- ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF RESULTS --- p.50 / Chapter 4.0 --- Overview --- p.50 / Chapter 4.1 --- Scale Assessment --- p.50 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Unidimensionality of the Constructs --- p.51 / Chapter 4.1.1.1 --- Exploratory Factor Analyses --- p.51 / Chapter 4.1.1.2 --- Confirmatory Factor Analyses --- p.52 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Reliability --- p.53 / Chapter 4.2 --- Structural Equation Modeling --- p.54 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- The Structural Equation Models for All Three Services Combined --- p.55 / Chapter 4.2.1.1 --- The Full Model for All Three Services Combined --- p.55 / Chapter 4.2.1.2 --- The Modified Model for All Three Services Combined --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- The Structural Equation Model for Fastfood Restaurants --- p.61 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- The Structural Equation Model for Hair Salons --- p.61 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- The Structural Equation Model for Banks --- p.62 / Chapter 4.3 --- Discussion --- p.63 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Results of the Service Switching Model for All Three Services Combined --- p.63 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Comparison of Structural Model Results of Overall Model and Individual Models --- p.64 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary --- p.67 / Chapter Chapter V: --- CONCLUSION --- p.68 / Chapter 5.0 --- Overview --- p.68 / Chapter 5.1 --- Summary of the Research --- p.68 / Chapter 5.2 --- Contributions of the Research --- p.72 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Theoretical Contributions --- p.72 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Managerial Implications --- p.76 / Chapter 5.3 --- Limitations --- p.82 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Research Design --- p.82 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Sample and Sampling Procedure --- p.83 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Data Collection Procedure --- p.84 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Measurement --- p.85 / Chapter 5.4 --- Future Research Direction --- p.85 / Chapter 5.4.1. --- The Use of More Comprehensive Model as the Conceptual Framework --- p.85 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Testing the Effect of Situational Factors on Service Switching --- p.86 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Testing the Effect of the Customer's Personal Characteristics --- p.86 / Chapter 5.4.4 --- Using Different Service Classification Schemes to Choose Representative Service Industries to Be Tested in the Conceptual Model --- p.87 / Chapter 5.5 --- Summary --- p.87 / FIGURES: / Figure 1 --- p.89 / Figure 2 --- p.90 / TABLES: / Table 1 --- p.91 / Table 2 --- p.92 / Table 3 --- p.94 / Table 4 --- p.95 / Table 5 --- p.97 / Table 6 --- p.98 / Table 7 --- p.100 / Table 8 --- p.102 / Table 9 --- p.104 / Table 10 --- p.106 / Table 11 --- p.108 / Table 12 --- p.109 / APPENDIX --- p.110 / REFERENCE --- p.115

by Hwang Fai, Kam Pui Sze. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-63). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.v / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Definition of e-learning --- p.1 / Traditional Classroom Learning vs. E-learning --- p.2 / Significance of Interactivity and Multimedia in E-learning --- p.2 / Cultural Difference in Learning Styles and Habits --- p.4 / Benefits of E-learning --- p.5 / Substantial Cost and Time saving --- p.5 / Meet Need-driven Demand --- p.5 / Flexibility and Convenience Enhancement --- p.6 / Create Learner-friendly Environment --- p.6 / Increased Retention --- p.6 / Improved Collaboration and Interactivity among Students --- p.7 / Ease of Information or Materials Update --- p.7 / Limitations of E-learning --- p.7 / Huge Initial Capital Investment --- p.8 / Technology Dependent --- p.8 / Technology cannot completely replace Human Contact --- p.8 / Personnel Resistance --- p.9 / Not all Courses are delivered well by Computer --- p.9 / Not all People are suitable for E-learning --- p.9 / E-learning on the Corporate Level --- p.10 / The Corporate E-learning Market --- p.10 / Barriers of Implementation --- p.11 / Significance of E-learning on the Corporate Level --- p.11 / Cost Savings to Corporations --- p.11 / Performance Improvement --- p.12 / Competitive Position --- p.12 / E-learning Development In Hong Kong --- p.13 / Chapter II. --- OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH / Chapter III. --- RESEARCH HYPOTHESE --- p.17 / Conceptual Framework: Flow construct --- p.17 / Research Hypotheses --- p.19 / Direct Influence on Flow --- p.19 / Direct Influence on Perceived Playfulness --- p.21 / Direct Influence on Intention to Use E-learning --- p.21 / Chapter IV. --- METHODOLOGY --- p.22 / The Sample --- p.22 / Definition of Variables --- p.23 / Chapter V. --- RESULTS --- p.24 / Results for Tests for Direct Influence on Flow --- p.24 / Results for Tests for Direct Influence on Perceived Playfulness --- p.25 / Results for Tests for Direct Influence on Intention to use E-learning --- p.26 / Chapter VI. --- DISCUSSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS --- p.28 / Chapter VII. --- LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY --- p.35 / Chapter VIII. --- CONCLUSION --- p.37 / APPENDIX --- p.46 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.56

Revenue management (RM) is the science of selling the right product, to the right person, at the right price. A key to the success of RM, which now spans a broad array of industries, is its grounding in mathematical modeling and analytics. This dissertation contributes to the development of new RM tools by: (1) exploring some fundamental tradeoffs underlying any RM problems, and (2) designing efficient algorithms for some RM applications. Another underlying theme of this dissertation is the modeling of customer preferences, a key component of any RM problem. The first chapters of this dissertation focus on the model selection problem: many demand models are available but picking the right model is a challenging task. In particular, we explore the tension between the richness of a model and its tractability. To quantify this tradeoff, we focus on the assortment optimization problem, a very general and core RM problem. To capture customer preferences in this context, we use choice models, a particular type of demand model. In Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 we design efficient algorithms for the assortment optimization problem under different choice models. By assessing the strengths and weaknesses of different choice models, we can quantify the cost in tractability one has to pay for better predictive power. This in turn leads to a better understanding of the tradeoffs underlying the model selection problem. In Chapter 5, we focus on a different question underlying any RM problem: choos- ing how to sell a given product. We illustrate this tradeoff by focusing on the problem of selling ad impressions via Internet display advertising platforms. In particular, we study how the presence of risk-averse buyers affects the desire for reservation con- tracts over real time buy via a second-price auction. In order to capture the risk aversion of buyers, we study different utility models.

This thesis studies the yield differential between green bonds and conventional bonds, the so called green premium or "greenium". By deriving a theoretical model that includes investors' preferences for green assets, two hypothesis are formulated: There exists a negative green bond premium and The negative premium is larger in absolute terms in countries with high environmental performance. In order to estimate the premium, synthetic conventional bonds are constructed having the same characteristics as the green bonds. Two different matching methods are used to construct the synthetic bonds, one based on maturity and one based on correlation. The findings of this study suggest a significant negative green premium between -0.29 and -0.78 basis points. Also, the green premium is more than twice as large, in terms of absolute value, if the issuer is based in a country which has a high environmental performance.

Typescript. / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The purpose of this study was to determine the learning styles of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students and associate degree Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) students and identify any association between their learning styles and examine the association between gender and age by learning style. Participants included 337 DPT and PTA students attending CAPTE accredited institutions with doctoral DPT or associate PTA programs in Tennessee and southwest Virginia. The Felder (1996) and Soloman Index of Learning Styles (ILS) was used to determine learning style preferences within 4 learning style dimensions (active-reflective, sensing-intuitive, visual-verbal, and sequential-global). Demographics included program of study, gender, age, ethnicity, and highest level of education. Participants were 18-63 years (mean age 25.87, standard deviation 5.62, median age 24); 205 (60.8%) DPT students, 132 (39.2%) PTA students; 205 (60.8%) female, 132 (39.2%) male. Five research questions with 20 null hypotheses were evaluated using Cross-tabulated tables with frequency counts, percentages, and chi square tests. Statistical significance was established using an .05 alpha. Only 1 null hypothesis was rejected (Ho51: There is no difference in the active-reflective learning style among PTA students by age). There was no significant difference between the learning styles of DPT and PTA students. Participants were found to be balanced on the active-reflective dimension, sensing on the sensing-intuitive dimension, visual on the visual-verbal dimension, and balanced on the sequential-global dimension; preferences were toward the active, sensing, visual, and sequential learning styles. This study demonstrated that DPT and PTA students have a balanced learning style with a strong preference toward active, sensing, visual, and sequential. Therefore, teaching methods should provide an instructional environment that addresses these learning style preferences. The student’s awareness of his or her learning style will enable the learner to capitalize on strengths and develop areas of weakness. This ability to employ effective learning strategies will equip an individual for the challenges of his or her chosen profession and lifelong learning.