Non-profits are increasing in size and scope to meet social needs that are unmet by the government. Declining financial support, government regulations, and increasing competition force non-profits to become more professional and efficient. Non-profits increasingly engage in commercial activities, joint ventures with for-profits, and employ business techniques such as business planning and marketing. An extensive body of research examines issues related to non-profit performance that supplies a framework for business planning. Business planning may help non-profits to sustain competitive advantages and long-term financial stability. This paper examines the challenges of writing a business plan for non-profits concluding with a sample business plan that takes into consideration advantages, risks, and limitations of non-profits.

This paper deals with various topics in micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology beginning with microactuation, MEMS processing, and MEMS design engineering. The fabrication and testing of three separate MEMS devices are described. The first two devices are a linear stepping motor and a continuous rotary motor, respectively; and were designed for the purpose of investigating the frictional and wear properties of silicon components. The third device is a bi-stable microrelay, in which electrical current conducts through a secondary circuit, via a novel probe-interconnect mechanism. The second half focuses on engineering a carbon nanotube / SU-8 photoepoxy nanocomposite for fabricating MEMS devices. A processing method for this material as well as the initial results of characterization, are discussed.

Photoresist stripping with oxygen plasma ashing destroys the functional groups in organosilicate glass films and induce moisture uptake, causing low-k dielectric degradation. In this study, hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), triethylchlorosilane and tripropylchlorosilane are used to repair the damage to organosilicate glass by the O2 plasma ashing process. The optimization of the surface functionalization of the organosilicate glass by the silanes and the thermal stability of the functionalized surfaces are investigated. These experimental results show that HMDS is a promising technique to repair the damage to OSG during the photoresist removal processing and that the heat treatment of the functionalized surfaces causes degradation of the silanes deteriorating the hydrophobicity of the films.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze and identify the major factors that determine the success or failure of mega-sports events. The report begins with a discussion of why localities are willing to invest large sums of public monies in infrastructure and services to host these events. This is followed by a review of the methods used to assess the economic, fiscal, and social impacts of hosting large sporting events. It is observed that comprehensive analyses of the impacts of these events are not undertaken. Finally, the major factors that affect the success of these events are discussed along with suggestions for improving studies evaluating success or failure.

It is said that there is a "productivity paradox" existing in the workplace meaning there are no net benefits from information technology spending. This paper attempts to answer the question as to whether there is a need to account for a change in the growth rate of productivity after the Internet was opened up to commercial use. Using the Chow Test for structural change I concluded that there was indeed a positive change in the growth rate of productivity beginning in the early 1990s that can be associated with increasing Internet usage.