This dissertation examines media narratives of Chien-Ming Wang, Yani Tseng, and Jeremy Lin as the entry point for interrogating the construction of transnational Taiwanese identity through modern sports. On the one hand, the (re-)articulation of Taiwanese nationalism has been reproduced and driven through the sporting success of these sporting figures. On the other hand, their national identities, their physical movements across national borders, and their sporting performances—mainly on American soil—also trouble the orthodox notion of nation and nationalism. Through examining media texts published in the United State and Taiwan, I argue that a fluid and flexible transnational Taiwanese identity has emerged. Although global capitalism and transnational corporations have been the leading forces of such media discourses, nation and nationalism still largely regulate and define the ways in which meanings are produced and consumed in these localities. More importantly, I contend that the power imbalance—politically, economically, and culturally—between America and Asia should be critically foregrounded in this conjuncture. In sum, the United States' intervention in Asia during the Cold War era and Taiwan's special status in this historical period still have a lasting effect in contemporary Taiwanese societies. The “light of Taiwan” discourses revolving around Wang, Tseng, and Lin could be understood as a continuation of U.S. cultural imperialism and hegemony since the end of the World War II. Meanwhile, transnational capital and a relatively new Taiwanese nationalism also played prominent roles in these nationalistic celebrations in contemporary Taiwan.

The subject of this thesis is the strategic development of the company Infinity Sport, s. r. o., which operates in the market of nutritional supplements, sportswear and other sporting goods. The data needed to assess the current state of the company and to select a suitable development strategy were obtained using various analytical methods detailed in the theoretical part. In the analytical part, individual methods of strategic analysis were applied to a particular enterprise, and the results were integrated into the SWOT analysis, which was the basis for the design of a specific growth strategy of the company. In the design section, individual possibilities of expansion to the new market were elaborated, from which the most suitable alternative, which should be used by the company in the case of the realization of the development, was chosen.

Ce projet doctoral a pour finalité d’investiguer la place de la spécificité d’un contexte sportif, dans le processus d’adaptation de l’échelle de mesure Points of Attachment Index à un terrain d’étude particulier. Cette échelle se propose de mesurer l’attachement des spectateurs à l’égard des composantes des événements sportifs. Les concepts d’attachement, voire d’attachement émotionnel sont mobilisés dans les recherches sur la relation spectateurs - événements sportifs. Considéré comme animal, athlète et coproducteur de la pratique en tant que spécificité du milieu sportif, le cheval est étudié dans le contexte français et équestre. La question de recherche tend ainsi à s’intéresser à la prise en compte de cette spécificité dans l’utilisation d’une échelle de mesure dédiée à l’attachement des spectateurs aux composantes des événements sportifs liés au contexte sportif examiné. Pour cela, différentes étapes articulées sous forme d’études ont été menées. Après avoir identifié et observé les parties prenantes des concours équestres visibles par les spectateurs, une étude qualitative menée auprès 42 spectateurs nous a permis de mieux appréhender la relation affective vis-à-vis des composantes des concours équestres, et d’ainsi faire émerger des items propres à la composante « spécificité ». Par la suite, une étude quantitative (n=463) nous a donné l’opportunité d’analyser la place de cette spécificité dans l’échelle de mesure adaptée, ainsi que sa place dans l’attachement des spectateurs aux composantes des concours équestres. En conclusion, ces résultats se proposent de présenter de nouvelles connaissances quant à la relation spectateur-événement sportif, ainsi que, de suggérer l’éventualité d’adapter les instruments de mesure mobilisée au contexte étudiée (et implicitement étudier ses spécificités) dans la finalité d’être au plus près de la réalité du terrain. / This thesis aims at investigating the position of the specificity of sport context, in the adapted Points of Attachment Index scale to a particular filed. This scale measures the spectators' attachment to sporting event and their dimensions. Attachment and emotional attachment concepts are used for spectator-sporting event relationships researches. As a specificity of sport, we study horse in French and equestrian context. This research tends to examine the consideration of this specificity of scale. Several steps of this thesis are associated with studies. Firstly, we identify the stakeholders of equestrian competitions, with spectator’s equestrian sporting event. The main goal of this study is to emerge “specificity-horse” items. Then, a quantitative study is conducted (n=463). On the one hand, it gives us the opportunity to analyze the consideration of specificity dimension to adapted scale. On the other hand, we examine spectators’ attachment to horse and other dimensions of sporting events. These results provide a better understanding of spectator-sporting event relationships. For it, this research suggests to examine sport and cultural context and to adapt scale, in order to make the results representing the field reality at its best

Objectives: The purpose is to see if there is a relationship between declining walk-in visitor counts and increased library web access. The overall objective is to evaluate library services and find better and more efficient ways to meet the needs of walk-in and virtual patrons. Methods: Compile past five years of walk-in visitor statistics from the library. Retrieve past five years of website statistics from Google Analytics. These two sets of data will be compared and analyzed for any correlation. We hypothesize the data will show a steady decrease in walk-in visitors along with a continued increase in website visitors. We hope to find a period during the past five years where the two values intersect. If a clear relation exists, we will identify possible factors that can be attributed to these changes. Results: The combination of online “visits” combined with walkin visits gives an entirely different picture of the use of libraries by patrons. Conclusion: Librarians should not be wedded to success markers of past eras. By updating measures of recording “attendance,” a more truthful picture emerges about the true popularity of libraries. This type of data is essential, since libraries are under more pressure to justify their existence.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Events Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2015. / South Africa won the right to host the first Fédération Internationale de Football (FIFA) WorldCup™ on the African continent in 2010. The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ has been heralded as a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity with significant legacy benefits for South Africans. Many sport mega-event organisations tend to disregard residents’ perceptions of the events’ social, economic and environmental impacts. There is a lack of research investigating responses of residents where the event takes place, specifically studies on informal residents’ perceptions of sport mega-events. The main focus of this study is to explore the level of awareness, perceptions and attitudes of residents living in an informal settlement area in close proximity to Cape Town Stadium with respect to the impacts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in Cape Town. A systematic, stratified random sampling technique was used to survey 370 household residents of Joe Slovo, which is the nearest informal settlement to Cape Town Stadium, three months before the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The findings revealed that the majority of the residents were aware of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, and that communication from stakeholders could have improved. The residents also expressed their support for the event by indicating various levels of participation. They also generally had positive perceptions towards the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, but highlighted that big businesses and the wealthy and rich would mainly benefit from the event. Social concerns were related to traffic congestion, excessive noise levels, and crime. An investigation of this sort ‘paves the way’ for on-going research into residents’ perceptions of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. It is recommended that the focus should be on longitudinal impacts rather than short-term impacts and that a legacy should be left behind

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There are numerous supply chain planning processes and activities that need to take place to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in a company. For the case study retailer, these planning processes and activities contribute to the end goals and objectives of the company. In order to reach these goals and objectives, the importance and contribution of each of the planning processes and activities must be determined. Supply chain planning can provide a company with a competitive advantage, but it can also lead to catastrophic events when it is not fully utilised or poorly executed. A case study was done on a South African sports retailer to determine to what extent the different supply chain planning processes and activities contribute to the end goals and objectives of this retailer and how these goals and objectives are tracked within the company. The implementation of planning processes and -activities were also investigated and what the consequences may be when the planning processes and activities are poorly executed. Goals and objectives which were given to the retailer‟s planners were investigated and thoroughly studied. Some of these goals included achieving effective stock policies, managing gross sales margins for products and accurate forecasting. A hybrid research method was used to gather both qualitative and quantitative data. Interviews were conducted with planners in the company to explore their current planning methods as well as to highlight the shortcomings thereof. A job satisfaction questionnaire determined the motivators and hygiene factors (where hygiene factors refer to factors such as the employee‟s relationships with their supervisor, salaries and working conditions) of the employees in the company. A low level of motivators and hygiene factors may contribute to employee‟s responses at the workplace: exit, voice, loyalty and neglect. The importance of supply chain planning in the sports retail industry and the shortcomings this retailer has on supply chain planning methods were determined and the crucial role planning plays in this retailer was effectively determined and comprehended. Areas for improvement include, realistic budgeting and planning, enhanced forecasting methods and investing in employee training. Results also show that the retailer is managing effective levels of planning to reach the goals and objectives of the company. However, there are key areas for improvement where focus should be placed upon. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is talle beplanningsprosesse en beplanningsaktiwiteite wat moet plaasvind om die effektiwiteit en doeltreffendheid van n maatskappy te verseker. Vir die kleinhandelaar in die gevallestudie dra hierdie beplanningsaktiwiteite, en -prosesse by tot die doelwitte en doelstellings van die maatskappy. Om hierdie doelwitte en doelstellings te kan bereik, moet die belangrikheid en bydrae van die beplanningsprosesse en beplanningsaktiwiteite bepaal en ten volle begryp word. Voorsieningskettingbeplanning kan aan „n maatskappy „n mededingende voordeel verskaf, maar kan ook lei tot katastrofiese gebeure indien die voosieningskettingbeplanning swak uitgevoer word of nie ten volle aangewend word nie. „n Gevallestudie is gedoen op „n Suid-Afrikaanse kleinhandelaar in sporttoerusting om te bepaal watter tipe beplanningsprosesse en beplanningsaktiwiteite plaasvind in hierdie landswye kleinhandelaar. Die implementering van die beplanningsprosesse en beplanningsaktiwiteite is ook ondersoek en wat die nagevolge kan wees wanneer hierdie beplanningsprosesse en beplanningsaktiwiteite swak uitgevoer word. Doelwitte en doelstellings wat aan die beplanners van die besigheid deurgegee word, is deeglik bestudeer. Sommige van hierdie doelwitte sluit in die bereiking van effektiewe voorraadbeleide, handhawing van bruto verkope marges vir produkte en akkurate vooruitskattings. „n Hibriede navorsingsmetode is gebruik vir die insameling van kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe data. Onderhoude is met die beplanners van die maatskappy gevoer om die huidige beplanningsmetodes te verken en om die tekortkomings in die beplanningsmetodes uit te wys. „n Werkstevredenheid vraelys het die motiveerders en higiëne faktore (waar higiëne faktore verwys na werknemers se verhouding met die toesighouer, salarisse en werksomstandighede) van die werknemers bepaal. Lae vlakke van motiveerders en higiëne faktore kan lei tot die volgende reaksies: ontrekking, stem, lojaliteit en verwaarlosing. Die kritieke belangrikheid wat beplanningsprosesse en beplanningsaktiwiteite behels vir hierdie kleinhandelaar was vasgestel, asook die tekortkominge wat hierdie kleinhandelaar met voorsieningskettingbeplanningsmetodes het. Verbeteringsareas sluit in, realistiese beplanning en „n realistiese begroting, verbeterde vooruitskattingsmetodes en om in die werknemer se opleiding te investeer. Dit is bepaal dat hierdie kleinhandelaar handaaf effektiewe vlakke van beplanning om einddoelstellings en einddoelwitte te bereik. Daar is egter, sekere areas, waar fokus op geplaas moet word. Sleutelwoorde: Voorsieningskettingbeplanning, beplanningsprosesse, beplanningsaktiwiteite.

During the design of sports equipment, the main focus is usually on physical performance attributes, neglecting key subjective factors such as feel and comfort. The personal protective equipment worn in sport is a typical example, where injury prevention has taken precedence over user comfort, but it is anticipated that with a new approach to the design process, comfort can be improved without sacrificing protection. Using cricket leg guards and taekwondo chest guards as an example, this study aimed to develop a systematic method for assessing user perceptions and incorporating them into the design process. Players perceptions of the factors that influence the comfort of cricket leg guards and taekwondo chest guards were elicited through the use of co-discovery sessions, focus groups and individual interviews, and analysed through an inductive process to produce a comfort model. The relative importance of each different comfort dimension was identified through the use of an online questionnaire utilising the analytical hierarchy process method. Through the combination of these methods, six general dimensions were identified with a weighting regarding the amount to which each one determines a user's perceived comfort. For both cricket and taekwondo, the majority of players ranked Fit as the most important factor affecting comfort. Experimental procedures were developed to objectively test the Fit of cricket leg guards, with regards to batting kinematics, running performance and contact pressure. These methods were combined with subjective assessments of leg guard performance, to determine if there was a relationship between users perceived comfort and objective test results. It was found that shot ROM and performance were not significantly affected by cricket leg guards, despite perceptions of increased restriction whilst wearing certain pads. Wearing cricket leg guards was found to significantly decrease running performance when compared to running without pads (p<0.05). In addition, it was found that the degree of impedance depended on pad design and could not solely be attributed to additional mass. These results correlated with the subjective assessment of three different leg guards, with respondents identifying the pad which had the largest influence on their running biomechanics and impeded their performance the most, as the most restrictive pad. Contact pressure under the pad and straps was also measured for four different leg guards whilst running. The results found that the top strap applied the greatest amount of pressure to the leg, especially at the point of maximum knee flexion. The peak pressure under the top strap was found to reach up to three times that of any other area of the pad. These results were reflected in the subjective assessment of the leg guards, with all nine subjects identifying the top strap as an area of discomfort for certain pads. The results also suggested there was a preference for pads with a larger more consistent contact area, as pad movement was perceived to increase when contact area variation was greater. Finally the results from this research were used to develop a product design specification (PDS) for a cricket leg guard, specifying size, mass, contact pressure and shape. The PDS was used to develop a concept design which would maximise comfort, whilst maintaining protection.

2 pp. / 6-4-6; A Sports Ethics Program is a companion piece to the Josepheson Institute's Character Counts program. Utilizing the same principals as their Pursuing Victory with Honor sports ethics program, 6-4-6 is targeted at youth ages 5-13. Sportsmanship, teamwork and fun are the focus of this easy "user friendly" set of lessons and manual. It is designed to meet the needs of volunteer coaches and increase positive parental involvement in youth sporting events. Portable challenge games that focus on the six pillars of character begin each practice and are the basis for the program. Parents, coaches, and youth sign codes of conduct at the beginning of the sports season to establish expectations for all.

2 pp. / 6-4-6; A Sports Ethics Program is a companion piece to the Josepheson Institute's Character Counts program. Utilizing the same principals as their Pursuing Victory with Honor sports ethics program, 6-4-6 is targeted at youth ages 5-13. Sportsmanship, teamwork and fun are the focus of this easy "user friendly" set of lessons and manual. It is designed to meet the needs of volunteer coaches and increase positive parental involvement in youth sporting events. Portable challenge games that focus on the six pillars of character begin each practice and are the basis for the program. Parents, coaches, and youth sign codes of conduct at the beginning of the sports season to establish expectations for all.

2 pp. / 6-4-6; A Sports Ethics Program is a companion piece to the Josepheson Institute's Character Counts program. Utilizing the same principals as their Pursuing Victory with Honor sports ethics program, 6-4-6 is targeted at youth ages 5-13. Sportsmanship, teamwork and fun are the focus of this easy "user friendly" set of lessons and manual. It is designed to meet the needs of volunteer coaches and increase positive parental involvement in youth sporting events. Portable challenge games that focus on the six pillars of character begin each practice and are the basis for the program. Parents, coaches, and youth sign codes of conduct at the beginning of the sports season to establish expectations for all.