Cette thèse est pour objectif d’étudier les facteurs explicatifs du retrait de cote. Prenant appui sur la théorie de l’agence et sur la théorie du signal, nous cherchons à identifier les facteurs, au moment de l’IPO, qui peuvent avoir une influence sur la probabilité de retrait de cote des entreprises. De cette manière, nous prenons en compte le cycle de vie des entreprises depuis leur IPO jusqu’à leur eventuel retrait de cote afin d’identifier les facteurs à l’origine du retrait. L’échantillon est composé de 187 entreprises francaises introduites en bourse entre 2000 et 2008. Parmi ces entreprises, la proportion des entreprises retirées est d’environ 10,2 % et 24,6 % pour raisons économiques et non-économiques. Enfin, 65,2 % des entreprises restent cotées à la fin de l’année 2013. Trois principaux résultats sont mis en évidence. Premièrement, les résultats obtenus suggèrent que la qualité de l’IPO est le principal facteur justifiant les retraits de cote qu’ils soient pour raisons économiques ou non-économiques. Deuxièmement, les résultats montrent que la probabilité de retrait de cote (la durée de cotation) des entreprises retirées pour raisons économiques est négativement (postivement) impactée par : i) la présence des actionnaires institutionnels et familiaux ; ii) la taille du conseil et iii) la réputation de la banque introductrice. Au contraire, une gestion aggressive des résultats au moment de l’IPO et le niveau de sous-évaluation iniale vont augmenter (diminuer) la probabilité de retrait de cote (la durée de cotation) de ces entreprises. Troisièmement, nous constatons que la probabilité de retrait de cote (la durée de cotation) des entreprises retirées pour raisons non-économiques diminue (augmente) avec la réputation de la banque introductrice. En revanche, une grande proportion de capital cédée par les dirigeants lors de l’IPO va augmenter (diminuer) la probabilité de retrait de cote (la durée de cotation) de ces entreprises. / The main objective of this thesis is to study the determinants of delisting. Based on both agency theory and signal theory, we examine the main factors, at the time of IPO that could influence delisting. Therefore, we take into account the entire cycle of firms’ life from their IPO to their delisting for the purpose of identifying the determinants of delisting. The sample consists of 187 IPO firms listed on the French stock exchange between 2000 and 2008. Among these firms, the percentage of delisted firms is about 10.2% and 24.6% for economic reasons and non-economic reasons, respectively. Finally, 65.2% of firms are still listed on the market by the end of 2013. Our study highlights three major findings. First, the results show that the IPO quality is the most important driving factor of delisting (for both economic reasons and non-economic reasons). Second, findings show that the probability of delisting (listing duration) for economic reasons are negatively (positively) associated with: i) the presence of institutional and family’s shareholders; ii) board size and iii) the underwriter’s reputation. In contrast, an aggressive earnings management at the time of IPO and the underpricing level will increase (decrease) the probability of delisting (listing duration) for economic reasons. Third, we find that the probability of delisting (listing duration) for non-economic reasons decrease (increase) with the underwriter’s reputation. On the other hand, a large proportion of capital sold by managers at the time of IPO will increase (decrease) the probability of delisting (listing duration) for non-economic reasons.

This research examines the impact, if any, of the introduction of casemix funding on public hospitals in Victoria. The results reported here show that in Victoria, during the period under observation, rural hospitals showed a significantly greater preponderance, relative to metropolitan hospitals, to either amalgamate or close down. Since 1 July 1993 public hospitals in Victoria have been compared for efficiency in the delivery of their services. The casemix funding arrangements were installed, among other reasons, to improve efficiency in the delivery of hospital services. Duckett, 1999, p 107 states that under casemix funding 'The hospital therefore becomes more clearly accountable for variation in the efficiency of the services it provides'. Also, 'Generally, case-mix funding is seen as being able to yield efficiency improvements more rapidly than negotiated funding'. Hospital comparisons provide State bodies with information on how to allocate funding between hospitals by means of annual capped budgets. Budgets are capped because funding is restricted to a given number of patients that can be treated in any given year. Thus, casemix funding relies heavily on cost comparisons between hospitals, and the way that hospital output is measured relies on the use of diagnosis related groups (DRGs).

The aim of this study was to explore refugees experiences of an introduction program in a small Swedish municipality. The study was based on semi-structured interviews with six refugees and was conducted to explore how the introduction program contributed or has not contributed to feelings of being integrated. Our informants have got different backgrounds but have all been forced to flee their home country to Sweden. The interview data was interpreted through earlier research, theories about social exclusion and concepts which were relevant for our study. Our study showed that the informants felt kindly received in the small municipality. The informants emphasizes the small village where segregation among Swedes and refugees was less of a problem. The different parts of the introduction program was of importance, according to the informants, but they also stressed that the introduction program, in itself, isn’t enough to become integrated in the Swedish country. The informants explained that the individual person must take responsibility for its own integration beside taking part of the introduction program. The study showed that the most difficult problems occur when the introduction program is ended and the time to find “established” employment has come.

Information system introduction is an organizational learning process, in which organizational members learn how to introduce information system into an enterprise. While learning, however, individuals always act defensively ¡XModel I theories-in-use, and the defensive behaviors usually bring counterproductive or unintended consequences or limited learning (Argyris, 1978, 1985, 1990, 1999). Similarly, in the process of introducing information system, the organizational members' defensive behaviors will make information system cannot completely meet the business needs or cause schedule delay. In this research, we conduct a case study to explore the defensive phenomenon during the process of introducing information system. Based on theories of action and literature about organizational defense (Salaway, 1984, 1987; Wastell, 1999; Henfridsson & Soderholm, 2000), we investigate the defensive phenomenon and generalized it into ten stories. The analyzing results show that users, MIS staff, and top managers all have defensive behaviors in introducing information system and thus cause negative effect. Therefore, this research suggests the organizational members move from Model I to Model II orientation and practice to introduce information system more effectively.

Goldfish, an exotic originally from Asia, are frequently released into North American waters, causing unknown impacts on native fauna and flora. In the wild, diet overlap between feral goldfish (Carassius auratus) and native red-spotted newts (Notophthalmus v. viridescens) is high, leading to potential interspecific competition over food. In the laboratory, we manipulated densities of goldfish and red-spotted newts to test competition for benthic food organisms between these unrelated species. / No intraspecific interference was noted for either goldfish or newts at any density. However, as density increased food resources were more rapidly depleted by both species, suggesting scramble competition. Foraging strategies of the species differed. Goldfish shoaled more and abandoned food patches before they were depleted, whereas newts were solitary and exhausted a food patch before moving on to new sites. Both species found more food patches when with heterospecifics than with conspecifics, suggesting interspecific information transfer. In addition, goldfish found more food patches than newts in all trials, indicating scramble competition occurred.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- Lincoln University, 2008. / Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, November, 1997. / Title from PDF t.p.

Dissertation (DSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / Bibliography. Also available vir the Internet.

Thesis (M.C.M.) -- Lincoln University, 2010. / Also available via the World Wide Web.