Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2004.

Thesis (M. A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1978. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Rapidly changing and growing market made entering to the market change a really hard venture. The assortment offered by competitors rose. To keep up challenges it is necessary to apply strategies and techniques which let the company to reach high position on the market. Still rising group of competitors made demanding of customers also rose. Surviving on the market started to be connected with ensuring high quality products, but with still keeping the same price of it. How company can achieve it? From the side of company it is connected with quick reaction to the customer needs and to gain it company has to take care after its flexibility. This paper is structured to answer the question why it is significant to be flexible on the market and also how to become a flexible company. To create cognitive perception of this issue, analyse of flexible company - an example of still prospering, a leader company HMS Industrial Network, is presented. The paper firstly identifies the research problem by presenting the theory gained from various literatures and then viewing prior researches concerning values of being flexible company, and secondly shows the methodology of the study. Next, the empirical findings from investigation of one, known as very flexible, company, are presented. Finally the conclusion is presented to see if reality support the thesis developed in paper.

The customers perceived all 5 SERVQUAL dimensions; tangibles, reliability, assurance, responstiveness, and empathy, pertaining service quality performance at low level when compared with their expectation. Thailand Resor AB should fulfill these 5 gaps and pay attention at assurance dimension concerning conveying trust and confidence because of the highest gap. The dimension of tangibles (equipment, physical facilities, etc.), empathy (ability to see through the customer’s eyes), responstiveness (willingness to help and provide prompt service), and reliability (doing what company have promised) were adjusted consequencely. The respondents highlighted the following key quality factors of their expectations; be treated with respect, be listened to and be dedicated attention, more friendly staffs, get the accoracy information. Some respondent have fuzzy expectations that he company have to further discover the real expectations by providing gauidance to their staffs to encourage them to ask questions.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) och konsekvenserna av att ha detta funktionshinder har debatterats mycket på senare år. ADHD anses vara en medfödd uppmärksamhetsstörning av varierande grad som finns hos 3-5 % av befolkningen och påverkar hela livet för den drabbade. Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att belysa skillnader i livskvalitet och hälsa hos barn, unga och vuxna med diagnosticerad ADHD i jämförelse med personer som saknar denna neuropsykiatriska störning. Datamaterialet bestod av 11 vetenskapliga artiklar med kvantitativ ansats publicerade år 2000-2008. I resultatet framkom tre områden där skillnader fanns: livskvalitet och fysisk hälsa, livskvalitet och psykisk hälsa samt livskvalitet och social hälsa. Livskvaliteten och den fysiska hälsan upplevdes likvärdig eller bättre av personer med ADHD jämfört med personer utan funktionshindret i fem av nio studier. Den psykiska hälsan och livskvaliteten skattades lägre i gruppen med ADHD som även hade större problem med självkänsla och självförtroende. Problem med uppförande gav konsekvenser i sociala sammanhang såsom hem och skola och ledde till nedsatt livskvalitet och social hälsa.

Most of the researchers have discussed the phenomenon of job quality from different perspectives in Customer Contact Center. The current study has highlighted this issue by investigating the relationships of job quality within the organization and the external world. The literature of the study thoroughly discussed the issue in a symmetric way. Further, the hypothesis has been developed on the basis of previous literature and theory. By considering the both employees and customer’s perspective, a dyadic approach has been selected. The primary data were collected with the help of two questionnaires. Three sample companies have been selected from Telecom Industry of Pakistan. Subsequently, the empirical data is presented and tested by using statistical software (SPSS). Finally, the hypotheses have been verified by using statistical tools. In concluding, a positive indirect relationship has been found among the variables of job quality and customer satisfaction. The contribution to study along with further research has been conferred.

Each year, County Extension Agents dedicate many hours toward educational programs to serve clientele. One of the largest programs in 4-H is the youth livestock project. Livestock projects take a significant amount of time and there is a variety of programs offered to youth exhibitors. One of these educational programs offered though Texas Cooperative Extension is Quality Counts. Quality Counts focuses on teaching character education and quality assurance to youth livestock exhibitors. The purpose of this study was to determine the total number of youth livestock projects entered in Texas during 2006 and identify any apparent educational trends. The second objective of this study was to determine how Quality Counts is perceived by County Extension Agents. To complete this study, a web based survey was sent administered to every County Extension office in Texas. 250 of 254 counties responded to the survey (98.43% response rate). From data collected, it was revealed that there were a total of 89,839 total livestock projects entered in 2006 at the county level (76,225 market and 13, 614 breeding). This data was compared to a previous study completed in 2001 by Boleman, Howard, Smith, and Couch. This data compared market livestock entry numbers. Based upon the comparison, market livestock projects have increased by 7.06% since 2000. Beef cattle and goats have increased, while sheep and swine have slightly decreased. Roughly a third of Texas counties will be utilizing the Quality Counts curriculum during the year 2007. Qualitative analysis reveals that Quality Counts is seen as educationally useful and easy to implement into traditional livestock educational programming, and is most often used as part of ongoing project clinics. Most importantly, program participants are increasing their knowledge of livestock projects, character, and ethics. Respondents are also beginning to see program participants’ behaviors change because of participating in Quality Counts.

Near-road air quality studies have indicated the presence of high levels of pollutants. In this study, a three dimensional Eulerian model is developed which can be used to study the air quality near freeways. A vehicle-induced turbulence parameterization is included in the model to estimate better the turbulent diffusion of pollutants. The near-road air quality model is used to study two different cases. In the first case, the model is validated using the data from General Motor's SF6 dispersion experiment, conducted at Michigan in 1976. Sensitivity of the model to meteorology and traffic-related parameters are studied in detail. In the second case, the spatial distribution of ozone, carbon monoxide, NOx and 1,3-Butadiene near a simulated 8-lane freeway was studied. Model simulation for the first case yielded better results than US EPA's CALINE models which were previously used for regulatory purposes. Model performance when analyzed at different wind directions shows an overall good performance. The results also show that the model performs well at surface but slightly over predicts pollutant concentration at higher elevations. The simulation results for second case at different directions of wind and at different boundary conditions for model species, places emphasis on the importance of the inclusion of the chemical mechanism in the study of near-road air quality.

Using SERVQUAL approach ,the research finds: 1.There is significant difference in satisfaction among them. The attribute of service person have higher customer satisifaction ,but the attribute of power quality and power reliability have the poor performance. 2.There are difference customer-satisfaction among different industries. Generally, tradition industries have higher customer satisfaction. 3.Person skill are the advantage of Taipower.Taipower must improve the power quality and power reliability immediately.