Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1988. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Janet Mary Wagner. / Ph.D.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-133). / by Diego Martín Luzuriaga. / M.S.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 168-169). / by J. Miguel Villas-Boas. / Ph.D.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 182). / by Vijay Mehra. / M.S.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1990. / by Mark Alan Lester. / M.S.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Alfred P. Sloan School of Management, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND DEWEY. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Lawrence Richard Kahn. / M.S.

Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2014. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 83-90). / The popular explanations of market bubbles, based on the classical economic assumption that market prices incorporate market participants' private valuations, argue that bubbles are caused by the collective delusion of individual participants who have false beliefs of fundamental values. An emerging institutionalist approach of research, in contrast, argues that bubbles can be produced even if rational investors collectively have the resources to correct mispricing, implying that market price doesn't necessarily incorporate true private beliefs. The primary analysis of my dissertation tests the two competing explanations in the context of the Beijing real estate market, where the collective delusion explanation seems particularly appropriate since amateur participants dominate this market. However, my analysis of the unique survey data shows systematic and precise evidence that bubble-era prices do not equal the mean of private valuations, which strongly supports the institutionalist approach. The second analysis of my dissertation is to answer the question that how market price has been driven up in the circumstance that the majority of market participants regarded the properties as overpriced. My results shed light on a novel explanation in the institutionalist approach by showing that the market was driven by market participants who were drawing incorrect inferences about other participants' beliefs-they overestimated the degree of others' support to the price, though they personally did not endorse the price. They therefore chose "dancing"-speculating but exiting from the market before the burst of the bubbles-as the optimal strategy, but it is actually suboptimal in such a situation and fuels the bubble. The third analysis of my dissertation is to understand the logics of market participants' behaviors in depth by examining their opinions on "popular theories"-the theories or models that were widely used to justify the bubble-era price. My analysis shows that, first, these popular theories reflect market participants' perceptions of the institutional influences on the real estate market in this country. Second, market participants' perceptions of the stability of the social and political institutions led them to be tolerant of market inefficiency, though they had fully realized such inefficiency. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed. / by Jiayin Zhang. / Ph. D.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references. / This thesis project is a comprehensive application of the Delta Model at a major jet engine manufacturer. It will assess and contrast customer segmentation and customer value proposition via primary research. It will also assess and contrast the current and future state "bundle of competencies" within the firm. Utilizing the frameworks of the Delta Model, we will then define the mission of the business and the strategic agenda. Once these are understood we will determine the strategic agenda for customer targeting to determine how we attract and delight the best customers. And finally, this paper will assess the operational effectiveness of the firm to determine an agenda for improvement. This analysis will be done utilizing the Delta Model's three strategic options and eight strategic positions. -- Best Product: -- Low Cost ... what does it take to become the low-cost producer? -- Differentiation... what differentiates in the market and is it enough to demand price premiums? -- Total Customer Solution: -- Customer Integration... have customer performed activities been assessed for integration? Can scale, technology, information systems and/or other innovations and competencies be leveraged to provide solutions that will enhance customer economics? -- / (cont.) Customer Relationship... has the customer base been properly segmented in order to define differentiated treatment of customer tiers? -- Horizontal Breadth... is revenue opportunities maximized at each customer tier by offering a complete set of product and services? -- System Lock-in: -- Exclusive Channel... is their barriers in place that makes it difficult for competitors to complete for the acquisition of customers? -- Dominant Exchange... is their appropriate interface between Buyers and Sellers and is that interface difficult to displace? -- Proprietary Standard... is proprietary standard possible in this industry? / by Arthur L Soucy. / M.B.A.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1998. / Vitae. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-81). / by Richard J. Donnelly and Philip G. Potts. / S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2011. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 101-112). / Many studies conducted on Travel and Tourism industry consider tourism an economic phenomenon. Providing a customer-satisfaction-based analysis, this thesis deals with both economic and social aspects. Economic data on tourism are first analyzed. A social model is then developed by examining two different countries, Argentina and Turkey, as case studies. The strategic approach followed in studying these countries allows for the presentation of diverse images of Travel and Tourism industry in various countries requiring different core strategies. After studying Travel and Tourism industry in Argentina and Turkey, the thesis deals with performance factors and policies defined in tourism destination countries from competitiveness and customer satisfaction points of view. The competitiveness aspect is based on the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, defined by World Economic Forum, and the customer satisfaction aspect is based on the proposed Travel and Tourism Customer Satisfaction Index. The index itself or the related measurement system is not the base of this thesis and the study is on the fundamentals of this index. The thesis provides a structured approach to the reasons for which different tourists may travel to a destination country. It proposes country action plans in order to increase responsiveness to tourists with different purposes of visit and provide them with satisfactory experiences. Strategic approach requires each country to first choose which groups of tourists would be optimal for targeting and then prepare to receive them. Such an approach would result in different outcomes based on time, availability of resources, and different prioritizations. Based on the case studies and further literature review, the concluding part recommends some general rules to follow that are closely related to "sustainability" in tourism development. These rules are considered a MUST at any time and in any competitive environment. / by Dordaneh Davari. / S.M.