Zugl.: Bremen, Diss., 2008.

Zugl.: Berlin, Freie Univ., Diss., 2008$nBerlin.

Zugl.: Flensburg, Universiẗat, Diss., 2008.

Over the past decade, public policy making and implementation in some European and North American countries have been in the form of networks of public, private and voluntary sector organisations. The changing nature of governance, to governing with and through networks, is known as ‘network governance’ (Rhodes, 1997). Nonetheless, it is ambiguous if network governance is a global phenomenon or merely applicable to the developed world context. Since the evidence of network governance from developing countries is hitherto scarce in the literature, this research, therefore, fills the current knowledge gap by examining network governance in Thailand. The research explores and explains the presence (or absence) of network governance in Thailand through Resource Dependence Theory, using illicit drug policy implementation in Chiang Mai province as a case study. A quantitative survey (N = 217) and a qualitative semi-structured interview (N = 31) were employed to accumulate primary data. The findings reveal that governance in the case under consideration had not shifted towards networks. Although it was found that there is a moderate degree of resource interdependence between state and non-state organisations involved in the policy, it was not sufficient to verify the existence of network governance. This was because power asymmetry existed in the relationship, with the state sector being the power-advantaged one. State agencies avoided collaborating with the non-state sector due to the fear of an expected loss of autonomy, whereas non-state organisations did not perceive resources from the state sector as being of critical importance. Thus, network governance was mainly absent from this case. This research joins broader intellectual debates that network governance is not a global phenomenon but rather a case-specific one, which suggests that public administration scholars should take the distinctiveness of context into account. Moreover, this study contributes to the illicit drug policy making in Thailand by recommending that deregulations of some bureaucratic rules and cross-sector organisational learning are vital to facilitate network governance.

Ökade krav på företags hållbarhetsrapportering och investerare som ställer krav på implementering av ESG-kriterier i Private Equity-fonder är drivkrafter för Private Equity-företag att arbeta med ESG. Syftet med uppsatsen är att få en ökad förståelse för hur tre nordiska Private Equity-företag utformar styrelsen i portföljbolagen för att arbeta med ESG. För att förklara detta har en komparativ undersökning genomförts, där vi jämförde Summa Equity, Altor Equity Partners och Nordic Capital. Information om Private Equity-företagen samlades in från intervjuer med företagen och från dokument om företagen. Vi har hittat att Private Equity-företagen främst tillsätter styrelseledamöter med ESG-expertis i sina portföljbolag vid särskilda behov av kunskap inom ESG. Eftersom portföljbolagen styrs genom styrelsen är det viktigt att tillsätta styrelseledamöter med olika erfarenheter och expertis som kompletterar varandra. Vidare har vi hittat att Private Equity-företagen inte enbart bidrar med kunskap inom ESG genom portföljbolagens styrelse, utan även genom rådgivning till ledning och anställda.

Yes / This study examines the impact of multi-layer governance mechanisms on the level of bank risk disclosure. Using a large dataset from 14 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries over a period of 8 years, our findings are three-fold. First, our results suggest that the presence of a Sharia supervisory board is positively associated with the level of risk disclosure. Second and at the bank-level, we find that ownership structures have a positive effect on the level of risk disclosure. At the country-level, our evidence suggests that control of corruption has a positive effect on the level of bank risk disclosure. Our study is, therefore, a major departure from much of the existing accounting literature that offers new crucial insights that show that firms’ disclosure choices are not mainly shaped by firm-level (internal) governance arrangements, but also country-level (external) governance and religious factors. Our findings have important implications for corporate boards, investors, regulatory authorities, standards-setters and governments relating to the development, implementation and enforcement of corporate and national governance standards.

Background: The debate on gender equality is a topical subject in Sweden as well as the rest of the world. A gender quota law was proposed for Swedish listed companies but was outvoted. Is there a connection between gender equal companies and financial performance? Purpose: The main purpose of this study aims to investigate if companies with gender equal boards financially outperforms companies who does not have a gender equal board. Method: The thesis is based on a quantitative method along with a deductive approach in order to collect secondary data. Multiple regression analysis was performed in order to test the results against Critical Mass Theory, Resource Dependence Theory and previous research findings. Conclusion: The results of the study conclude that there is a significant positive relationship between gender equal boards and a higher market value. Furthermore, our findings show no significant relationship between gender equal boards and profitability. / Bakgrund: Jämställdhetsdebatten är ett aktuellt ämne både i Sverige som i världen. Ett förslag om könskvotering bland bolagsstyrelser på börsen i Sverige lades fram men blev nedröstat. Finns det en koppling mellan jämställda bolagsstyrelser och finansiell prestation? Syfte: Studiens syfte avser att undersöka om företag på Stockholmsbörsen med jämställda bolagsstyrelser har en högre finansiell prestation jämfört med företag som har en icke-jämställd bolagsstyrelse. Metod: Genom ett kvantitativt angreppssätt och deduktiv ansats har studien tagit del av sekundärdata. Studien har använt multipla regressionsanalyser för att testa dess resultat mot Critical Mass Theory, Resource Dependence Theory samt tidigare forskning. Slutsats: Studiens resultat påvisar att det finns ett statistiskt signifikant samband mellan jämställda bolagsstyrelser och ett ökat marknadsvärde. Vidare finner studien inget statistiskt signifikant samband mellan jämställda bolagsstyrelser och företags lönsamhet.

Although Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) is often seen as a powerful tool to drive sustainability across its supply chain, there is little available research in terms of how SPP actually influences its suppliers’ sustainability practices and what challenges are being faced during the process. In this study, we shed light on both issues by exploring SPP using Institutional and Power Dependence Theory in the context of the surgical instrument industry in Sweden. Methodologically, the study is grounded in an exploratory design and employs in-depth interviews with multiple stakeholders to gain a holistic understanding of the phenomena being studied. The study revealed that SPP mainly influences suppliers by requiring them to evaluate their own sustainability practices, engage in collaborative actions and make alterations when they fail to comply with the contractual terms.The most significant challenge resulted to be the lack of resources, resulting in the inability to perform sufficient follow-ups, engage in meaningful conversations with suppliers and procurers having to buy unsustainable products because of their tight budgets. Another major challenge was Sweden’s forerunner position when it comes to SPP on an international level, resulting in reluctancy on the part of international suppliers to alter their sustainability practices.

Background - The underrepresentation of women in corporate boardrooms has been a central corporate governance issue for decades; still, improvement is made at a slow pace and varies by industry sector. On average, the Swedish financial industry displays high levels of female board representation compared to other industry sectors; however, there are large differences between the companies. Therefore, investigating whether certain organizational and/or board characteristics have an impact on female board representation in this industry may provide valuable insights as to whether some factors enhance gender diversity on these boards and, consequently, could serve as tools for further growth of female board representation. Purpose - The purpose of this study is to evaluate the development of female board representation in Swedish publicly listed financial firms and to investigate whether certain organizational and/or board characteristics have an impact on female board representation. As such, the study answers call for research regarding women on boards in the finance industry, while also contributing to the limited amount of research examining whether certain organizational factors may act as predictors of female board representation. Method - The study is of quantitative nature with a deductive approach and longitudinal design. Data is collected from annual reports and corporate governance reports of Swedish public financial firms listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and NGM Equity between 2011 and 2017. The initial sample contains all 60 listed firms, while the final sample consists of 37 firms. The dependent variable is female board representation and the independent variables are firm size, female employment base, board size, outside directors, multiple directorships, older directors, and female chairman. Control variables for market capitalization segments and year-fixed effects are included. Data is analysed using multiple linear regression, which is in line with prior research. Conclusion - The results of the study show that there is a significant negative relationship between female board representation and board size, while there are significant positive relationships between female board representation and the variables outside directors and female employment base. Significant positive relationships are also found between female board representation and effects related to time and market capitalization segment. The results are both in line with and contradictory to prior research, indicating the need for further research to clarify the relationship – if any – between certain factors and female board representation. Moreover, the results provide indications for policymaking, especially concerning the large inequalities found regarding the position as chairman as well as the relationship between the female employment base and female board representation.

Advanced practice nurses fill a vital need in the U.S. by increasing access to needed healthcare. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are one type of advanced practice nurse with a long history of safe and effective peri-anesthetic care. Nurse anesthetists have a rich tradition of providing anesthetic care for rural and underserved communities, and are a primary provider of anesthesia for active and retired military personnel. CRNAs comprise over one-half of the actively practicing U.S. anesthesia workforce currently, and are able to function in any anesthetic care model. Nurse anesthesia educational programs (NAEPs) are the single source for new graduate nurse anesthetists in the U.S. Demographic, geographic and epidemiological factors have combined to produce a predicted increase in the demand for peri-operative anesthesia care among a complex, aging and increasing patient population. The uninterrupted or increased supply of CRNAs to the anesthesia workforce is important. The goal of this study was the production of a comprehensive analysis of potential resource constraints upon the NAEPs in the U.S. This was accomplished through a focused, prospective and correlational research design, grounded conceptually in Resource Dependence Theory. A novel survey tool was developed for the assessment of critical resource constraints, completed by U.S. NAEP administrators and faculty. This research was exploratory in nature and is the basis for continued work in critical resource planning tools for U.S. NAEPs.