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<p>Using a critical, feminist anti-oppressive framework approach this research study investigated the effects of restructuring on South Asian social workers in mainstream and ethno-specific agencies. This exploratory study examined the experiences of South Asian social workers and how restructuring has played a role in their practices. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five participants. The results indicated that the participants were concerned with 1) increase in bureaucracy and decrease of the social aspect of their work; 2) influence of the Eurocentric foundations of social work and its racist undertones, as well as its implications regarding cultural sensitivity; 3) exercising resistance as a result of the negative impacts of restructuring. The findings demonstrated that the social work profession needs to consider how restructuring uniquely impacts South Asian social workers and their practice. Mainstream and ethno-specific agencies need to consider how increasing bureaucracy and integrating culturally sensitive approaches can be inter-laced with racist undertones. More importantly, these agencies must evaluate how this will impact workers’ practices. Implications for culturally sensitive social work practice and the impacts of restructuring on South Asian social workers and service users are discussed.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

<p>This research project explores the effects of neoliberal policy reform at Children Aid Society (CAS) in Ontario with a specific focus of a newly amalgamated agency in Northern Ontario. For the purpose of this research paper, the agency currently restructuring is referred as Agency # 1. The amalgamation has been initiated by the Ontario Ministry of Youth and Children Services (MYCS). In order to provide these changes, the MYCS formed the Commission to Promote Sustainable Child Welfare (CPSCW) to look into approaches that would make services more efficient and sustainable. This project focuses on the interpretation of the amalgamation through three lenses: the academic literature reviewed; five interviews conducted with administrators and front line workers; and finally the researchers lived experience at Agency # 1 will form a backdrop to the research questions in order to highlight the voices of the research participants. A qualitative approach was conducted to analyze and outline specific themes and sub themes that relate to the literature review such as Neoliberalism, Centralization and New Public Management (NPM). The findings support that neoliberal policy reform has impacted employees at Agency # 1 through a series of miscommunication on policy and procedures along with a delayed process to agreeing on a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The data outlines that the process has been highly influenced and developed by the MYCS, CPSCW and senior administration. The data supports the conclusion that neoliberal reform through managerial approaches is highly entrenched in restructuring of Agency # 1.</p> / Master of Social Work (MSW)

Governance is one aspect of university restructuring that in the last 20 years has become ubiquitous worldwide. The restructuring is in part a response to calls for improving governance in higher education. Keller (1983), for example, describes governance in higher education as limiting the capability of universities to make critical strategic decisions. Higher education researchers are seeking to understand governance restructuring. A few studies have been conducted in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Europe. However, developing countries in the Western World have also recognized the limitations of traditional higher education governance and have restructured their systems. This has prompted a need for research on higher education governance restructuring in developing nations. In the English speaking Caribbean, governance restructuring occurred in 1984 and 1996 at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and occurred again between 2004 and 2008. The purpose of this study was to examine the most recent governance restructuring at the UWI. The focus was on exploring three dimensions of organizational change: the antecedents or the factors that prompted the change in governance, the content of the change, and the change process. Three categories of antecedents were discovered: organizational, environmental, and relational antecedents. The organizational antecedent had two sub-themes: performance aspiration and institutional coherence. The environmental antecedents were global competition among nation states, competition from other tertiary education providers, and stakeholders' demands for greater access to higher education. The relational antecedent was a desire to strengthen the relationship with external stakeholders. Four themes related to the content of restructuring emerged from the data: (a) incremental change; (b) corporate/managerial decision-making approach; (c) university-wide strategic planning; and (d) responsiveness to stakeholder demands/needs. Using an archetype approach, the analysis revealed that although the UWI retained the collegiate archetype tradition, elements of another archetype were infused with the collegiate model creating a hybridized governance system. The process of the restructuring revealed three broad stages: initiation, negotiation, and the implementation stage. Collectively, the results suggest that UWI is moving, albeit slowly, away from collegiate governance towards a managerial model. More research is needed to explore the long-term impact of this shift. / Ph. D.

Firms' operational restructuring involves information relevant to strategic choices as well as future demand and cost conditions. This study examines the relationship between peer firms' restructuring and a company's responsiveness to its growth opportunities. Peer firm restructuring can increase uncertainty with respect to a company's payoffs regarding its investment projects, leading to decreased responsiveness to growth opportunities. Using a large sample of public companies during 2006–2020, I find that peer firms' restructuring is negatively associated with the responsiveness of capital expenditures (Capex) to growth opportunities. The results suggest that peer firms' restructuring activities provide information about a company's investment projects above and beyond industry shocks reflected in changes in industry sales. Furthermore, these associations are moderated by industry competition. The negative effects of peer firms' restructuring on Capex sensitivity are the strongest in high-competition industries.

This thesis presents a case study on the internal communication dynamics during the restructuring of an organization, specifically focusing on combining two departments under the same management. Previous research underscores the importance of internal communication practices on employees during the change process. However, this aspect is often neglected. This study utilizes literature to form an analytical framework for understanding the factors affecting communication practices and observing employees' reactions to internal communication during a strategic change, specifically by investigating how managers communicate internally and how employees perceive communication. A mixed-method approach was employed, collecting qualitative and quantitative data from interviews, observations, and one survey to provide a comprehensive view and real-life context. Despite the restructuring aiming to improve organizational performance, the findings reveal critical areas for improvement, particularly in the communication and collaboration between the two departments. The study uncovers that communication was mainly done through informal channels such as rumors and word of mouth, leading to differences in perspective, assumptions, and misunderstandings among employees. Despite highlighting positive effects, the findings revealed the absence of organizational structure, leadership, communication channels, and preparations, impacting how communication was executed and negatively perceived by employees.  However, these findings also present an opportunity for improvement. Several factors influence the internal communication of the restructuring, including the need for a clear vision and mission, inadequate preparation, differences in perspectives between managers and employees, and varying departmental differences. To mitigate negative effects and enhance organizational effectiveness, the study recommends implementing communication strategies such as fostering common values, facilitating open dialogue, and providing feedback and training programs to employees and managers. Additionally, the results reveal that preparedness is essential for strategic changes.

O fenômeno da Renovação Urbana é uma reestruturação espacial que se realiza em situações especiais da metrópole. Opera por uma finalidade ou estratégia específica. Implica em um processo de produção, um produto e um uso também específicos. Nesta especialização, a espacialização se diferencia. A renovação se realiza ao imbricar incorporação imobiliária, predominantemente de caráter privado, e infraestrutura, predominantemente de caráter público. Relaciona formas de financiamento especiais, recursos oriundos de instituições públicas de diversos níveis, ou de instituições financeiras de diversas ordens e origens. O presente trabalho busca analisar o processo contemporâneo de renovação urbana da Região da Luz, no centro de São Paulo, que explicita o caráter de disputa na produção do espaço. Uma luta de classes que se realiza na disputa pela produção e distribuição do produto social, da riqueza comum. A «cidade». A tese da renovação é a subvida do trabalho, que se aprofunda com o deslocamento da valorização da produção para a capitalização da propriedade, meio fictício de acumulação. Na atual reestruturação capitalista emerge o domínio do (capital) fictício como fundamento da reprodução social. Na sua dimensão espacial, convergem o imobiliário e o financeiro, que particularizam a reprodução do capital na metrópole contemporânea, proporcionando-lhe uma sobrevida através da produção do espaço. Esta convergência se dá pela coalizão de frações de classe detentoras do patrimônio imobiliário e financeiro, que acentua o domínio das classes proprietárias sobre as classes subordinadas. Como desdobramento na dimensão da luta política, a experiência de resistência à espoliação pode orientar para a constituição de uma classe social espacial, de base urbana, cuja luta conforma uma força contra o capital. A exposição da tese se dá em três capítulos. O primeiro analisa os planos urbanos da Região da Luz; o segundo, a centralidade da propriedade na acumulação de capital; e o terceiro os conflitos e coalizões no uso, distribuição e produção do espaço. Cada um destes capítulos, por sua vez, é organizado em três subcapítulos. O primeiro de cada um deles observa seu aspecto imediato, o plano urbano, a centralidade da propriedade e os conflitos e coalizões. Depois, inicia-se uma abordagem de seu aspecto global, ou como cada uma destas manifestações imediatas se relacionam a dimensões jurídicas, econômicas e políticas que têm relações a processos sociais mais amplos. Por fim, cada um deles se fecha com uma discussão que se suscita ao nível das contradições mais gerais que os movem, relativo à totalidade ou consciência. / The phenomenon of Urban Renewal is a spatial restructuring that takes place in special situations of the metropolis. It operates for a specific purpose or strategy. It implies in a production process, as well as a specific product and a use. In this specialization, spatialization differs. The renovation takes place by imbricating real estate development, predominantly a matter of a private character, and infrastructure, predominantly one of a public character. It relates special forms of financing, resources from public institutions of different levels, or from financial institutions of different orders and origins. The present work aims to analyze the contemporary process of urban renewal of the Luz Region, in downtown São Paulo, which explicits the character of dispute in the production of space. A class struggle that takes place in the dispute for the production and distribution of the social product, of the common wealth. The\"city\". The thesis of renewal is the subjunctive of the work, which is deepened by the shift from valuation of production to the capitalization of property, a fictitious means of accumulation. In the ongoing capitalist restructuration, the domain of the fictitious capital emerges as the foundation of social reproduction. In its spatial dimension, the real estate and financial sectors converge, leading them to privatize the reproduction of capital in the contemporary metropolis, providing the capital a extended life through the production of space. This convergence is due to the coalition of class fractions that hold the real estate and financial patrimony, which accentuates the domination of the proprietary classes over the subordinate classes. As an unfolding in the dimension of political friction between classes, the experience of resistance to spoilage can lead to the constitution of a spatial, urban-based social class whose struggle forms a force against capital. The hereby thesis is presented in three chapters. The first one analyzes the urban projects of the Luz Region; the second, the centrality of property in the accumulation of capital; and the third the conflicts and coalitions in the use, distribution and production of space. Each of these chapters, in turn, is organized into three complementary sub-chapters. The first sub-chapter of each of them observes its immediate aspect, the urban plan, the centrality of property and the conflicts and coalitions. Then begins an approach to its global aspect, or how each of these immediate manifestations relates to legal, economic, and political dimensions that have relations to broader social processes. Finally, each of them closes with a discussion that is raised at the level of the more general contradictions that move them, relative to the totality or consciousness.

O fenômeno da Renovação Urbana é uma reestruturação espacial que se realiza em situações especiais da metrópole. Opera por uma finalidade ou estratégia específica. Implica em um processo de produção, um produto e um uso também específicos. Nesta especialização, a espacialização se diferencia. A renovação se realiza ao imbricar incorporação imobiliária, predominantemente de caráter privado, e infraestrutura, predominantemente de caráter público. Relaciona formas de financiamento especiais, recursos oriundos de instituições públicas de diversos níveis, ou de instituições financeiras de diversas ordens e origens. O presente trabalho busca analisar o processo contemporâneo de renovação urbana da Região da Luz, no centro de São Paulo, que explicita o caráter de disputa na produção do espaço. Uma luta de classes que se realiza na disputa pela produção e distribuição do produto social, da riqueza comum. A «cidade». A tese da renovação é a subvida do trabalho, que se aprofunda com o deslocamento da valorização da produção para a capitalização da propriedade, meio fictício de acumulação. Na atual reestruturação capitalista emerge o domínio do (capital) fictício como fundamento da reprodução social. Na sua dimensão espacial, convergem o imobiliário e o financeiro, que particularizam a reprodução do capital na metrópole contemporânea, proporcionando-lhe uma sobrevida através da produção do espaço. Esta convergência se dá pela coalizão de frações de classe detentoras do patrimônio imobiliário e financeiro, que acentua o domínio das classes proprietárias sobre as classes subordinadas. Como desdobramento na dimensão da luta política, a experiência de resistência à espoliação pode orientar para a constituição de uma classe social espacial, de base urbana, cuja luta conforma uma força contra o capital. A exposição da tese se dá em três capítulos. O primeiro analisa os planos urbanos da Região da Luz; o segundo, a centralidade da propriedade na acumulação de capital; e o terceiro os conflitos e coalizões no uso, distribuição e produção do espaço. Cada um destes capítulos, por sua vez, é organizado em três subcapítulos. O primeiro de cada um deles observa seu aspecto imediato, o plano urbano, a centralidade da propriedade e os conflitos e coalizões. Depois, inicia-se uma abordagem de seu aspecto global, ou como cada uma destas manifestações imediatas se relacionam a dimensões jurídicas, econômicas e políticas que têm relações a processos sociais mais amplos. Por fim, cada um deles se fecha com uma discussão que se suscita ao nível das contradições mais gerais que os movem, relativo à totalidade ou consciência. / The phenomenon of Urban Renewal is a spatial restructuring that takes place in special situations of the metropolis. It operates for a specific purpose or strategy. It implies in a production process, as well as a specific product and a use. In this specialization, spatialization differs. The renovation takes place by imbricating real estate development, predominantly a matter of a private character, and infrastructure, predominantly one of a public character. It relates special forms of financing, resources from public institutions of different levels, or from financial institutions of different orders and origins. The present work aims to analyze the contemporary process of urban renewal of the Luz Region, in downtown São Paulo, which explicits the character of dispute in the production of space. A class struggle that takes place in the dispute for the production and distribution of the social product, of the common wealth. The\"city\". The thesis of renewal is the subjunctive of the work, which is deepened by the shift from valuation of production to the capitalization of property, a fictitious means of accumulation. In the ongoing capitalist restructuration, the domain of the fictitious capital emerges as the foundation of social reproduction. In its spatial dimension, the real estate and financial sectors converge, leading them to privatize the reproduction of capital in the contemporary metropolis, providing the capital a extended life through the production of space. This convergence is due to the coalition of class fractions that hold the real estate and financial patrimony, which accentuates the domination of the proprietary classes over the subordinate classes. As an unfolding in the dimension of political friction between classes, the experience of resistance to spoilage can lead to the constitution of a spatial, urban-based social class whose struggle forms a force against capital. The hereby thesis is presented in three chapters. The first one analyzes the urban projects of the Luz Region; the second, the centrality of property in the accumulation of capital; and the third the conflicts and coalitions in the use, distribution and production of space. Each of these chapters, in turn, is organized into three complementary sub-chapters. The first sub-chapter of each of them observes its immediate aspect, the urban plan, the centrality of property and the conflicts and coalitions. Then begins an approach to its global aspect, or how each of these immediate manifestations relates to legal, economic, and political dimensions that have relations to broader social processes. Finally, each of them closes with a discussion that is raised at the level of the more general contradictions that move them, relative to the totality or consciousness.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study project focuses on the use of real options valuation in a tactical financing setting. The objective is to identify real option values in financial restructuring situations. These options are generated by the use of hybrid financial instruments such as warrants, preferred stocks and convertibles. In the analysis, it will be demonstrated that the binomial approach, a method commonly used in real options analysis, can be applied to draw a monetary value from specific financial transactions (e.g., leverage buyouts). When used optimally, the binomial approach provides a forceful insight into the dynamics of the transaction. The study recognises the possible impact of capital structure decisions in the analysis, but understates it to avoid complexity. The real options perspective encourages a conscious search for monetary benefits and thus improves the decision-making of managers involved in financial restructuring operations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierde werkstuk fokus op die gebruik van rieëIe opsie teorie om taktiese finansieringsbesluitneming te evalueer. Opsies word gegenereer deur die gebruik van hibridiese finansiele instrumente soos bestuursopsie-orders, voorkeuraandele en omskepbare instrumente. In hierdie studie word 'n oorsig oor die teorie soos dit in literatuur verskyn gegee, asook voorbeelde van finansiele herstrukturering om die waarde van die toepassing daarvan te illustreer. In hierdie studie word erkenning gegee aan die moontlike impak wat kapitaalstruktuur-besluitneming op die ontleding mag hê. Die impak hiervan word egter weens die kompleksiteit daarvan ignoreer. Nieteenstaande hierdie beperking, word besluitneming rakende finansiele herstrukturering verbeter deur die perspektief wat deur die rieëIe opsie-benadering verkry word, soos in hierdie werkstuk uitgewys word.