L’objet de la présente étude est de comprendre comment une entité sociale devient partie prenante d’une entreprise. En effet, les différentes méthodes de détermination des parties prenantes sont critiquées sur leur portée heuristique. Une de ces nombreuses difficultés est leur incapacité à dire "qui" est partie prenante et "qui" ne l’est. Pour le dire autrement, la théorie des parties prenantes manque d’un critère de falsifiabilité. Dès lors, comprendre le processus par lequel une entité devient partie prenante revient implicitement à admettre que cette dernière au préalable ne l’est pas. De ce fait, étudier le processus par lequel un groupe d’individus devient partie prenante d’une entreprise revient à énoncer un critère de falsification puisqu’il devient possible de dire comment être partie prenante comment ne pas l’être. Telle est la problématique générale de ce projet de recherche.Pour comprendre ce processus, la réflexion part donc du postulat qu’une catégorie ne "nait" pas partie prenante mais le devient. La phase empirique de cette recherche repose sur une enquête multi cas. Trois entreprises sont étudiées. Les données traitées selon une analyse de contenu parviennent à faire ressortir une conception de l’entreprise comme nœud de quatre liens. Ces liens sont : un lien partenarial, un lien juridico-politique, un lien commercial et un lien sociétal. Selon le lien par lequel un individu ou un groupe d’individus est lié à l’organisation, il-cet individu- endosse un rôle particulier.Les personnes liées à l’entreprise par un lien partenarial sont des partenaires ou des contractants. Les individus liés à l’entreprise par le lien marchand sont des clients. Le lien juridico-politique met une personne en relation avec l’entreprise via des institutions judiciaires ou politiques. Les individus liés à l’entreprise par le lien sociétal sont des parties prenantes. Tout rôle étant provisoire, alors les individus sont provisoirement des parties prenantes. Le processus par lequel un groupe d’individus peut devenir partie prenante débute par la survenue d’un élément à enjeu (décision, comportement organisationnel). Le processus est aléatoire, imprévisible, contextuel et temporaire puisque tout acte de l’entreprise ne suscite pas de mobilisations. / The purpose of this study is to understand how a social entity becomes a stakeholder. The various methods of determining the stakeholders are criticized on their heuristic value. One of these problems is their inability to say "who" is a stakeholder and "who" is not. In other words, the stakeholder theory lacks a criterion of falsifiability. Therefore, understanding the process by which an entity becomes a stakeholder means that this entity is not a priori a stakeholder. Consequently, studying the process by which a group of individuals becomes a stakeholder of a company returns to state a criterion of falsification. This is the general problem of this research.To understand this process, it is said that any group cannot be considered at beginning as a stakeholder but it can become a stakeholder. The empirical phase is based on a multiple- case study. Three companies are studied. The study reveals three main results. First, the firm is seen as a four-relationship node. Second, all parties cannot be consider as stakeholders. Finally, according to the link through which an individual or group of individuals is related to the organization, it assumes a special role. These links are: the partnership relationship, the legal-political relationship, the commercial relationship and the societal relationship. Persons related to the company by a partnership relationship are partners. Individuals related to the company by the commercial relationship are clients. The legal and political relationship puts a person in connection with the company through legal or political institutions. Individuals related to the company by the societal relationship are stakeholders.The process by which a group of individuals can become stakeholders begins with the occurrence of an element in issue (decision, organizational behavior). The process is random, unpredictable, and temporary because any decision of a company do not cause mobilizations.

Research report presented to the Unisa School of Business Leadership / This research focused on the current model and practices of communication and relationship management between the ATIO Interactive Divsion Customer Service Managers and the customers of ATIO Interactive Division. The expected results of the research project will be to design a new, pro-active communication strategy between ATIO and its customers.

Past research has found support for Equity Theory and Attachment Theory in predicting relationship satisfaction. According to Equity Theory, individuals feel satisfied when they are engaged in equitable relationships, where the ratio of benefits to costs is the same across partners. On the other hand, Attachment Theory postulates that a secure attachment style predicts high relationship satisfaction. Although an extensive number of studies have supported these predictions, the present study was the first to compare or integrate Equity Theory and Attachment Theory in predicting relationship satisfaction. A total of 384 introductory psychology students completed questionnaires. Simultaneous multiple regression indicated that partner’s input and the avoidance dimension of attachment were the two largest predictors of relationship satisfaction among overall sample. Hypotheses regarding the relation between equity level and attachment styles were only partially supported. In addition, three proposed models for predicting satisfaction were tested. The first model, based on Equity Theory, showed that underbenefiting exchange orientation, communal orientation, and closeness predicted the level of equity, which in turn led to relationship satisfaction. The second model, based on Attachment Theory, indicated that attachment styles affected the level of self-disclosure leading to intimacy and closeness, which predicted satisfaction. The third model integrated the two theories and showed that attachment styles predicted equity, which influenced the level of self-disclosure. Self-disclosure influenced intimacy and closeness, which led to relationship satisfaction. The integrated model best predicted relationship satisfaction among the three proposed models. Finally, sex differences and differences between friendships and dating relationships were also discussed.

Background: Relationships are really important for companies in order to becompetitive today and in these relationships is it important to feel trust to the other companies. There is therefore necessary to find out how companies work to create trust between themselves and their customers.Purpose: The purpose of this report is to examine and explain how staffing companies work to build trust in their relationships with B2B clients through examination of the conceptual model, creating a theoretical contribution.Research question: How do recruiters at staffing companies work to create trust between themselves and the customer?Methodology: The study adopted a quality research method with a deductive approach where the focus wasg on describing and analyzing. The data was collected primarily through semi-­‐structured interviews.Research findings: Through the study’s interviews and their results is it possible to see that staffing companies in Växjö is working with trust. The conclusion is that staffing companies is working a lot and similar with competencies and contractual. But it differs how they work with benevolence. It seems that the staffing companies does not work a lot with benevolence and it depends on the recruiter if they want to work withbenevolence and goodwill or not and how they will do it.

Försvarsmaktens nya personalförsörjningssystem har medfört utmaningar och aktualiserat frågor kring de nya personalkategorierna. Utifrån att personalkategorin specialistofficer i framtiden ska utgöra kontinuiteten inom förbanden är syftet med studien att undersöka specialistofficerens relation till arbetsgivaren Försvarsmakten. Arbetets ansats är att ge en ökad förståelse för specialistofficerens relationship commitment, dvs. engagemanget för själva relationen till Försvarsmakten. Studiens teoretiska ram bygger på Meyer och Allens konceptuella trekomponentsmodell om organizational commitment. Studien genomförs som en attitydundersökning i form av en enkät, med framförallt slutna påståenden men även två öppna frågeställningar där resultatanalysen innehåller både en kvantitativ och en kvalitativ del. Resultatet visar att specialistofficeren tillmäter den känslomässiga komponenten störst betydelse för relationen vilket bekräftar tidigare forskning avseende kännetecken förprofessionsyrken. Inom denna komponent värderas påverkansfaktorerna personlig kompetens, trivsel, delade värderingar och stolthet högst. Resultatet visar även att andra faktorer såsom tvingande miljö inom den normativa komponenten har ett visst inflytande i engagemanget för relationen och att relationsfördelar inom den kalkylerade komponenten har en hög korrelation till viljan att fortsätta relationen.

Vidaus marketingas yra traktuojamas kaip pagrindinis ir lemiamas veiksnys, turintis įtakos išorinio marketingo sėkmei, nes darbuotojų ir vidaus aplinkos dėka įmonės gali labiau atitikti vartotojų ir esamų ar būsimų partnerių lūkesčius. Tokiu atveju, galima kalbėti apie verslo partnerystės vykdymą ir vystymą pasitelkiant vidaus marketingo ir ryšių marketingo susietumą bei sėkmingų ir efektyvių darbuotojų motyvavimo, atrankos, skatinimo diegimu ir planavimu organizacijose. Visų pirma partnerystė reikalauja, ne tik lanksčios, stiprios ir nepertraukiamos komunikacijos, kuri yra vienas svarbiausių veiksnių lemiančių sėkmingą partnerystę, tačiau yra būtina nuolat sieti abiejų partnerių darbuotojų žinias, kompetenciją, sėkmingai motyvuoti bei ieškoti naujų partnerių taip įgyjant konkurencinį pranašumą prieš kitas įmones. Todėl šiame straipsnyje atskiedžiamas inovatyvus požiūris į verslo partnerystės vystymą, pasitelkiant santykių ir vidaus marketingo elementus bei pasiūlomas apibendrinantis daugiakriterinis modelis. Darbo objektas: Verslo partnerystė Darbo tikslas: Išnagrinėjus verslo partnerystės ir vidaus marketingo teorinius aspektus ir atlikus jų sąsajų identifikavimą, sukurti verslo partnerystės vystymo vidaus marketingo pagrindu modelį ir pritaikyti jį paslaugų įmonei Darbo uždaviniai: 1. išanalizuoti partnerystės ir vidaus marketingo konceptualius pagrindus; 2. išsiaiškinti, kokį vaidmenį atlieka ir kokią įtaką partnerystės ryšiams daro vidaus marketingas; 3. parengti verslo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Internal marketing is approached to as the key and critical factor influencing success of the external marketing, because thanks to the employees and internal environment, the companies can better satisfy expectations of the users as well as current and prospective partners. In this case we can think about implementation and development of business partnership by using coherence between marketing and relationship marketing and efficient implementation of motivation, screening and promotion or employees and planning within the organization. Partnership primarily requires not only flexible, strong and continuous relationship, which is a key factor for beneficial cooperation, but also constant linkage of the both partners’ know-how, competence, successful motivation, and search for new partners to obtain competitive advantage against other companies. Therefore, the present article reveals innovative approach to business partnership development by employing elements of the relations and internal marketing. Besides, the article proposes a presumptive multi-criteria model. Subject matter of the paper is business partnership. The aim of the paper is the development of hypothetical business partnership development model based on the internal marketing after analyzing theoretical aspects of business partnership and internal marketing and after carrying out identification of their coherence. Research methods applied in the paper are: analysis of scientific literature; questionnaire... [to full text]

Divorce can be seen as one of the major causes of single-parent households (Janzen & Harris, 1997:134). Among the obvious difficulties families face as a result of divorce, other difficulties such as lack of time for family bonding and family leisure directly affect the well-being of the entire single-parent family (Arnold et al., 2008:84; Hornberger et al., 2010:158). Families form the foundation of society and the most important relationship in a family is that between the parents. If this relationship is strong, the rest of the relationships in the family will fall into place (Fields & Casper, 2001; Hornberger et al., 2010:143). It is important for the parents to have a strong relationship with each other, since this is a child’s first example of what a healthy relationship should be like. Therefore the relationship between parents could be seen as the base for the relationship between parent and child (Leman, 2000:164). Shaw and Dawson (2001:228) conclude that some parents do not participate in leisure activities for enjoyment, nor is it intrinsically motivated; parents see it as a responsibility and duty while they are feeling frustrated by doing something they wish not to. Therefore the purpose of this study was to firstly review the literature to determine whether it supports the usage of a leisure-based programme to strengthen the relationship between divorced single parents and their children; secondly, to explore and describe the role of a leisure-based programme in developing attitudes as well as in strengthening relationships between single parents and their children. The two-fold research objectives were studied by means of two different strategies. The first was a literature review done to analyse the research problem. Books, journals, dissertations, theses and Internet sources published between 1993 and 2011 were used to give a theoretical exposition of this study. Research concluded that leisure programmes have the potential of developing parent-child relationships. A qualitative research method was applied to research the second purpose of this study. Two divorced single-parent families participated in this ethnographic research study. Data was gathered by means of participant observation, field-notes and a semi-structured interview with each individual family member (De Vos, 2005:296; Veal, 2006:386). The researcher worked through the process of open-coding and then two main themes were identified during content analysis. The first was attitudes which had its own set of categories, namely self-esteem and self-empowerment and motivation. The second theme was relationships consisting of communication, problem solving, respect and trust. It could be concluded that if the elements in the themes are developed it would lead to the enhancement of the main theme. As a result of families participating in the leisure-based programme it was established that the development of self-esteem and self-empowerment as well as motivation led to the improvement of attitudes. Similarly, the enhancement of communication, problem solving, respect and trust contributed to the improvement of relationships. / Thesis (MA (Recreational Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Divorce can be seen as one of the major causes of single-parent households (Janzen & Harris, 1997:134). Among the obvious difficulties families face as a result of divorce, other difficulties such as lack of time for family bonding and family leisure directly affect the well-being of the entire single-parent family (Arnold et al., 2008:84; Hornberger et al., 2010:158). Families form the foundation of society and the most important relationship in a family is that between the parents. If this relationship is strong, the rest of the relationships in the family will fall into place (Fields & Casper, 2001; Hornberger et al., 2010:143). It is important for the parents to have a strong relationship with each other, since this is a child’s first example of what a healthy relationship should be like. Therefore the relationship between parents could be seen as the base for the relationship between parent and child (Leman, 2000:164). Shaw and Dawson (2001:228) conclude that some parents do not participate in leisure activities for enjoyment, nor is it intrinsically motivated; parents see it as a responsibility and duty while they are feeling frustrated by doing something they wish not to. Therefore the purpose of this study was to firstly review the literature to determine whether it supports the usage of a leisure-based programme to strengthen the relationship between divorced single parents and their children; secondly, to explore and describe the role of a leisure-based programme in developing attitudes as well as in strengthening relationships between single parents and their children. The two-fold research objectives were studied by means of two different strategies. The first was a literature review done to analyse the research problem. Books, journals, dissertations, theses and Internet sources published between 1993 and 2011 were used to give a theoretical exposition of this study. Research concluded that leisure programmes have the potential of developing parent-child relationships. A qualitative research method was applied to research the second purpose of this study. Two divorced single-parent families participated in this ethnographic research study. Data was gathered by means of participant observation, field-notes and a semi-structured interview with each individual family member (De Vos, 2005:296; Veal, 2006:386). The researcher worked through the process of open-coding and then two main themes were identified during content analysis. The first was attitudes which had its own set of categories, namely self-esteem and self-empowerment and motivation. The second theme was relationships consisting of communication, problem solving, respect and trust. It could be concluded that if the elements in the themes are developed it would lead to the enhancement of the main theme. As a result of families participating in the leisure-based programme it was established that the development of self-esteem and self-empowerment as well as motivation led to the improvement of attitudes. Similarly, the enhancement of communication, problem solving, respect and trust contributed to the improvement of relationships. / Thesis (MA (Recreational Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Title: Factors influencing a customer’s loyalty in B2B relationships: A qualitative study of relationship marketing Authors: Klara Karlström & Pia Andersson Advisor: Svante Andersson Level: Master thesis in marketing (15 Swedish credits). Spring 2014. Keywords: Customer loyalty, Behavior, Relationship marketing, B2B Purpose: The purpose of this study is to get a deeper understanding of which factors that influence a customer’s loyalty in the relationship between a supplier and a customer in B2B and how these factors are achieved? Frame of Reference: In the following chapter we present theory from previous research related to our research questions and purpose. First, a conceptualization of relationship marketing is outlined followed by theory regarding customer loyalty. Second, the selected factors of relationship marketing that can indicate customer loyalty are presented one by one. Methodology: In this chapter all the method choices to fulfill the thesis’ purpose and to answer the research questions are discussed and motivated. The choices for this study are comprehensive approach, qualitative method, a case study with one case company interviewing three informants. Empirical Study: In this chapter we present primary data that is collected for our study. It is collected through personal interviews with three informants at Getinge. Conclusion: Our conclusion is that satisfaction is more important that the other nine factors and that shared value and bonding are less important then the other factors. How they are achieved depend on the situation, the employee at Getinge and the customer in specific and there are no clear guidelines on how the should be achieved. Although there are no guidelines there are directions and the achievement of the factors are based on Getinge’s core values. The employees of Getinge are using the core values together with their individual common sense to reach the best result of customer loyalty.

Background: Successful crowdsourcing cannot be accomplished without a motivated community of participants. Hence, organisations need to use incentives that motivate the crowd to participate in crowdsourcing processes. Further, maintaining a working relationship between the organisation and the crowd throughout the duration of a project is a challenge with crowdsourcing. Thus, it creates difficulties in monitoring the quality of the outcome, which is the motivator for the organisation. However, previous studies have not covered the area of how the relationship between the organisation and the crowd influence their motivation. Purpose: Describe how motivation is influenced by the relationship between an organisation and the crowd in a crowdsourcing process.  Research questions: RQ1: How do an organisation and a crowd describe the relationship during the crowdsourcing process? RQ2: How do an organisation and a crowd describe their motivation during the crowdsourcing process? RQ3: How do the relationship between an organisation and a crowd influence motivation during the crowdsourcing process? Methodology: A single embedded case study, semi-structured interviews Conclusion: It is highly important that a company and a crowd have a good relationship in crowdsourcing, because it goes hand in hand with having a high motivation. It ought to be hard to state which term that influences the other, if it is the relationship that influences the motivation or if it is the motivation that influences the relationship. Thus, the result of this thesis explains that the relation between them is dynamic.