Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Also available in print.

M.S.

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

To meet global competition many companies have reorganized work process systems, eliminated management levels, formed employee work groups and implemented variable compensation systems. This study investigated the effect of group incentives on individual sales performance in two specialty shops located in a large metropolitan hotel. Two questions were addressed: What effect would adding a group bonus plan have on individual employee's sales performance who had previously received hourly wages in one shop; and, what effect would changing an individual incentive plan to a group plan have on the individual employee's sales performance in the other shop. In one shop 5 of 7 employees' productivity increased: in the other, 1 of 3 subjects' productivity increased. Contingencies in both shops are analyzed and suggestions offered for future research.

Service quality defined by the customer is an important element in satisfying customers and may determine retail survival. The SERVQUAL instrument measured desired and minimum expectations and perceptions of service quality in a small apparel specialty store. Factor analysis with varimax rotation resulted in three dimensions of service quality for both desired and minimum levels of expectations and perceptions: (a) Personal Attention, (b) Reliability, and (c) Tangibles. Regression analyses determined the relationship between overall service quality (OSQ) and various predictor variables. Based on gap scores between desired expectations and perceptions, the Personal Attention and Tangibles dimensions were significant in predicting OSQ. SERVQUAL is a managerial tool that small apparel retailers may use to improve service quality.

The main aim of my thesis on the topic "Selected forms of Selling the Organic Food - specialty stores" is to assess the actual state of organic food sales in specialty stores in terms of assortment, conditions and sales culture. Likewise, this work allow the reader to learn what is the difference between Czech and foreign quality organic food, who is a typical customer buying organic food, what are comments of organic food vendors, etc. Furthermore, this theme is dealing with regional sales or sales of fair trade products. In the end, we design measures that would help to further expansion, for example, sales of organic food. The goal is not to extend the organic food popularity, but to make consumers aware of benefits of buying organic food just in speciality stores or in health food stores.

This study investigated the clothing preferences of large-size women who shopped in selected large-size specialty stores in North Dallas. Questions were asked regarding the respondents' age, employment, income, dress size and degree of fashion-consciousness. Also investigated were preferences regarding apparel and shopping sources. A questionnaire was used to obtain the desired information. Based on the data obtained, it was found that large-size women have certain preferences concerning the clothing they purchase and the sources they shop.

Abstrakt Titel: Leksaker i den digitala tidsåldern – Leksaksbranschens bemötande av nya preferenser Författare: Sandra Nilsson och Victor Tydesjö Handledare: Leif Rytting Kurs: Företagsekonomi III – examensarbete 15 hp. Linnéuniversitetet VT 2014 Syfte Vårt syfte med uppsatsen är att undersöka hur leksaksbranschen har förändrat och kommer att förändra sin verksamhet i den teknologiska tidsåldern. För att genomföra detta har vi fastställt några aspekter att undersöka: Butikernas nuvarande tillstånd gällande sortiment och arbetssätt Förändringar som har skett gällande sortiment som en konsekvens av barns förändrade teknologianvändning Leksaksbranschens framtid som en följd av den fortsatta teknologiutvecklingen Forskningsfrågan lyder: Hur påverkas leksaksbranschen av barns tidiga användande av olika former av digital teknologi? Metod Vi har för denna uppsats valt att använda den kvalitativa metoden. Detta för att på ett djupt sätt kunna få specifik data om branschens företeelser. Undersökningen har genomförts med en abduktiv ansats, där vald teori har format empirin men där empiri även har inverkat på den teori som presenteras. Det teoretiska materialet har präglats av akademisk litteratur och elektroniska källor. Empiriinsamlingen skedde genom kvalitativa intervjuer med fyra leksaksbutiker och en representant från branschorganisationen Leksaksbranschen. Slutsatser Gällande branschens nuläge framkom att inköp på speciella inköpsmässor för leksakshandlare och deras leverantörer bär stor betydelse för leksaksbutiker och inverkar även på utformning av deras sortiment. Samordning mellan mindre aktörer i en enda katalog föreslås vara ett sätt för de mindre starka butikerna att hävda sig bättre mot de stora kedjorna. Vi fann att lekåldern har minskat, vilket medför att barn är kunder under en kortare tid. Vissa sortimentsanpassningar har skett på grund av detta, men inte i särskilt stor skala. Gällande branschens framtid tydliggörs att aktörerna kan behöva göra vissa förändringar i sin verksamhet, där exakt vad detta skulle vara inte är självklart. / Abstract Our purpose with this study is to investigate how the toy industry has changed and will change its operations in the technological era. In order to do this, we determined a few aspects to investigate: The toy stores’ current state regarding assortment and ways of working Changes that have occurred regarding assortment as a consequence of children’s’ changed technological usage The future of the toy industry as a result of the continued technological development The research question goes as follows: How is the toy industry impacted by children’s early usage of different kinds of digital technology? In this study we decided to use the qualitative research method in order to gather profound and specific data about the happenings of the toy industry. The study has been carried out with an abductive methodology, allowing theoretical data to impact empirical data and also allowing empirical data to impact theoretical data. The theoretical data is characterized by usage of academic literature and electronic sources. The empirical data gathering was carried out by qualitative interviews with four toy stores as well as a representative from the Swedish toy industry association. Regarding the current state of the industry, it showed that purchasing at special toy dealer’s purchasing fairs is of significant importance for toy stores and also impacts the shaping of their assortments. Coordination between smaller actors in one single toy catalog is proposed as a way for the less powerful stores to assert themselves against large toy chains. We found that children stop playing with toys at an earlier age, which means that children are customers during a shorter time span. Certain assortment adaptations have happened due to this, but not in a very significant manner. Regarding the future of the industry it is conveyed that the actors may have to perform certain changes in their operations, but precisely what this would entail is not obvious.