Thesis (Ph.D. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Marketing has changed a lot the past decade. New modern marketing channels have been developed and marketing have become more effective. This has affected the expectations advertisers have on advertising channels. One thing advertisers increasingly expect is to be able to efficiently measure the result of advertising, the ROI. A method for measuring ROI of digital signage is in focus in this study. The measurement is enabled by a combination of digital signage and mobile advertising. First a consumer is exposed to digital signage encouraging SMS interaction in order to receive an electronic voucher entitling the consumer to a discount. If the voucher is used, revenues can be linked to a specific campaign and ROI can be calculated. The study focus on measuring the tendency consumers have to interact through SMS when they get exposed to relevant advertising and the tendency they have to use the voucher that is sent to them as a result of the interaction.  The question is how efficient this method is for measuring ROI. In order to bring clarity to the issue, I conducted a quantitative survey using an online self completion questionnaire as measurement tool. It was distributed through e-mail among students at the College of Management at National Taiwan University. Furthermore, I have chosen a deductive approach, my epistemological position is positivism and I therefore utilize the scientific model conducting my research. My ontological position is objectivism meaning that I believe reality is independent of social actors. The empirical data collected showed that the method in focus have great potential in working efficient for measuring ROI of digital signage. The general tendency to interact through SMS was high, on average 82.3% of the respondents would interact through SMS when getting exposed to relevant advertising. In addition, 96.5% of those would also use the voucher sent to them, enabling ROI calculations. It was presumed that the digital signage advertising was relevant to such an extent to the consumer getting exposed to it, that he/she already had a purchase intention of the product/service which the advertising regarded. This should be remembered when evaluating the results. Nevertheless, if advertisers succeed in reaching out with relevant advertising enough, the findings in this study indicates that the method is an efficient tool to use for ROI calculations of digital signage.

本研究主要目的在探討臺灣高等教育投資回報率的估算，乃利用2010年行政院主計處之人力運用調查資料庫的資料，並採用Mincer的薪資所得擴展模型來分析臺灣的大學之教育類科報酬率，以最普通最小平方法進行實證分析。本文得到的實證結果如下： 1.臺灣不同大學教育類科畢業的勞動者之薪資所得估算結果，與Mincer（1974）的薪資所得模型與Psacharopoulos（1987）採用的模型一樣。 2.在教育回報率達顯著水準的教育類科中，男性及已婚勞動者的回報率均高於女性或未婚者，工作地點在都會區則沒有顯著性較高的回報率。 3.在七個教育類科中，以商科、理科、工科及醫(藥)護科達顯著水準，其中以理科為11.5％為最高，再者為醫(藥)護科為5.4％，商科及工科則為最低。 / The main purpose of this study is to examine the rate of return to investment in Taiwan higher education.The sample of this study is adopted from the Manpower Utilization Survey issued by the Directiorate-General of Budget,Accounting and Statistics（2010）. It used the Mincer equation to estimate the rate of different department return to investment in Taiwan higher education.It employs Ordinary Least Squares（OLS）for data analysis and the findings of current study can be summarized as follow: 1.Using Mincer’s and Psacharopoulos’s wage equation to estimate the different department of higher education was confired in Taiwan data. 2.In the returns to education on different department was significant,Male rate of return was higher than that of female, and the married was also higher than unmarried. The estimating results for urban employees was no significant higher rate of return. 3.In the returns to education on different department, business, engineering, science and medical was significant. The highest returns to education of department was science for 11.5%, and the higher was medical for 5.4%. The lowest returns to education was business and engineering.

This case study investigated profitability of a small stand of fast-grown Eucalyptus nitens in Canterbury for sawn timber production. This stand was pruned and thinned and then harvested at 15 years old. An estimate of per-hectare log yields and diameters was made from the stand. Sample logs were sawn, dried and profiled, then products quantified. Log prices were estimated using the residual value method. Prices were summed for sawn products from each log, from which processing expenses and sawmill profit were deducted for an estimate of log value. In the absence of market prices for sawn E. nitens products empirical estimates of price were derived from market survey data. Predictive models were produced from estimated stand log yields along with predicted product revenues and processing costs from sample logs. These were used for estimating per-hectare log residual values from the case study stand trees. Financial returns to the grower were then calculated as discounted cash flows from the estimated log residual values per hectare, taking into account grower costs along with harvesting and transport costs. Best-practice processing methods were identified from the literature and applied as a productivity benchmark. Methods were developed with the view to standardising data across research efforts that seek to improve grade recoveries for E. nitens. A range of factors were investigated that potentially influenced E. nitens log residual value in this case study, including log diameter and log position. Outcomes included a reasonably favourable return on investment for the grower. However, this depended on a number of factors such as land price, distance from processor, product prices, grading methods, drying methods and level of sawmill profit. The application of contemporary best practice small-scale processing methods indicates that E. nitens has potential as a profitable plantation species for solid timber production.

Magistro baigiamajame darbe išanalizuoti ir įvertinti Lietuvos II pakopos pensijų fondų investicijų grąžos pokyčiai verslo cikluose, iškelta fondo pasirinkimo problema bei pateikti siūlymai kaip šią problemą spręsti pensijų fondų dalyviams. Pirmoje darbo dalyje teoriniu aspektu analizuojama Lietuvos pensijų sistema, pateikiami teigiami ir neigiami kaupiamųjų fondų aspektai ir pateikiama verslo ciklų samprata. Antroje dalyje atliekama II pakopos pensijų fondų metinėse ataskaitose skelbiamų rodiklių analizė, nagrinėjami dažniausiai mokslinėje literatūroje sutinkami pensijų fondų vertinimo metodai bei pateikiamas darbo tyrimo modelis ir apibrėžiama darbo eiga. Trečioje dalyje pateikiama trumpa 2013 metų pabaigoje veiklą vykdžiusių II pakopos pensijų fondų apžvalga ir panaudojant Šarpo metodiką bei kitus pagrindinius fondų vertinimo kriterijus yra atrenkami efektyviausiai valdomi skirtingų strategijų pensijų fondai. Identifikavus verslo ciklus Lietuvoje, atliekama efektyviausiai valdomų skirtingų strategijų pensijų fondų investicijų grąžos analizė kiekvienoje verslo ciklo fazėje. Atliekama techninė analizė ir sudaromos tiesinės daugianarės regresijos lygtys, naudojamos prognozuoti investicijų grąžos pokyčius remiantis faktiniais fondų apskaitos vienetų vertės pokyčiais ir makroekonominiais rodikliais. / Master's Work analyzed and evaluated Lithuanian pillar II pension funds return on investment changes in business cycles, a series of suggestions is given for pension funds participants how to solve the problem of pension fund selection. The first part examines theoretical aspect of Lithuanian pension system, an overview of its positive and negative aspects and defined concept of business cycles. In second section analyzed indicators provided in the annual reports of pillar II pension funds, mostly encountered pension fund valuation methods in the scientific literature and workflow is defined. The third part present short review of Lithuanian pillar II pension funds which operated in 2013 and using Sharpe methodology and other most important valuation methods are selected efficiently managed by different strategies of pension funds. After identification of the business cycles in Lithuania, carried out in most effectively managed, by different strategies of pension funds, the return on investment analysis for each phase of the business cycle Technical analysis and the straight multiple regression equations used to predict changes in investment return based on the actual value of the fund units of accounting changes and macroeconomic indicators.

Background: In 2003, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service gave instructions that all the new student constables should undergo a personnel capacity-building programme as part of their basic training. This led to the development of the Self-Management Programme by Police Social Work Services. This programme IS, since July 2004, an integral part of the empowerment of more than 8000 recruits annually. A comprehensive study into the short and long-term effects of the programme on recruits, as well as its overall return on investment (ROI), was started in 2004. In this document, only the results that were achieved with the measurement of the programme's decision-making and purpose-in-life components will, however, be covered. Objectives: The study had a twofold purpose. The first was to measure the short and long-term effect of the Financial Management, Planning of Goals, Self-knowledge, Problem-solving and HIV/AIDS Awareness modules on recruit's knowledge, attitude and behaviour. It, secondly, endeavoured to measure the programme's return on investment coefficient. Method: The study utilised an experimental research design, as well as focus groups and triangulation. It involved an average of 400 experimental group respondents, 120 control group members, 12 focus group participants and 14 presenters per module. A total of 23 questionnaires and a focus group schedule was designed and utilised in the generation of data. Results: All five modules had a practical significant effect on the respondents' knowledge, attitude and behaviour and improved their personal and professional functioning considerably. The "decision-making" and "purpose-in-life" components, as well as the programme as a whole, also produced a very high return on investment. It, therefore, implies that the Self-Management Programme should be seen as both a very effective capacity-building tool and a financial asset for the South African Police Service. / Thesis (Ph.D. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Background: The success achieved with the South-African Police Service’s generic Personnel Capacity-Building Programmes contributed to a 2003 decision by the National Commissioner that a similar type of intervention should be included in the basic training of SAPS recruits. This led to the development of the Self-Management Programme. This programme is, since July 2004, an integral part of the empowerment of more than 8000 recruits annually and is presented on a bi-annual basis. A comprehensive study into the programme’s short-term and long-term effect and return on investment (ROI) was launched in 2004. This thesis will report on the results achieved with the measurement of the programme’s human relation and health maintenance components. Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to determine the effect of the Self-Management Programme’s human relations and health maintenance modules on the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of SAPS recruits, as well as the programme’s return on investment coefficient. Method: The study utilised an experimental research design, as well as focus groups and triangulation. It involved an average of 520 recruits (400 for the experimental groups and 120 for the control groups) per module. This was supplemented by qualitative research in which 91 recruits participated in various focus groups. The modules and programme was also subjected to a structured and comprehensive return on investment analysis. Results: Through the triangulation of measurements it was ascertained that the human relations and health maintenance modules had a practical significant effect on the recruits’ knowledge, attitude and behaviour and empowered them on both a personal and a professional level. The ROI analysis also showed that the programme was of considerable financial benefit to the SAPS and should remain as an integral part of all new recruits’ training in the future. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Background: The success achieved with the South-African Police Service’s generic Personnel Capacity-Building Programmes contributed to a 2003 decision by the National Commissioner that a similar type of intervention should be included in the basic training of SAPS recruits. This led to the development of the Self-Management Programme. This programme is, since July 2004, an integral part of the empowerment of more than 8000 recruits annually and is presented on a bi-annual basis. A comprehensive study into the programme’s short-term and long-term effect and return on investment (ROI) was launched in 2004. This thesis will report on the results achieved with the measurement of the programme’s human relation and health maintenance components. Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to determine the effect of the Self-Management Programme’s human relations and health maintenance modules on the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of SAPS recruits, as well as the programme’s return on investment coefficient. Method: The study utilised an experimental research design, as well as focus groups and triangulation. It involved an average of 520 recruits (400 for the experimental groups and 120 for the control groups) per module. This was supplemented by qualitative research in which 91 recruits participated in various focus groups. The modules and programme was also subjected to a structured and comprehensive return on investment analysis. Results: Through the triangulation of measurements it was ascertained that the human relations and health maintenance modules had a practical significant effect on the recruits’ knowledge, attitude and behaviour and empowered them on both a personal and a professional level. The ROI analysis also showed that the programme was of considerable financial benefit to the SAPS and should remain as an integral part of all new recruits’ training in the future. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

<p>Pension fund companies manage and invest large amounts of money on behalf of their members. In return for their contributions, members expect a benefit at termination of their contract. Due to the volatile nature of returns that pension funds attain, pension companies started attaching a minimum guaranteed amount to member&rsquo / s benefits. In this mini-thesis we look at the pioneering work of Brennan and Schwartz [10] for pricing these minimum guarantees. The model they developed prices these minimum guarantees using option pricing theory. We also look at the model proposed by Deelstra et al. which prices minimum guarantees in a stochastic financial setting. We conclude this mini-thesis with new contributions where we look at simple alternative ways of pricing minimum guarantees. We conclude this mini-thesis with an approach, related to the work of Brennan and Schwartz [10], whereby the member&rsquo / s benefit is maximised for a given minimum guaranteed amount, which comprises of multi-period guarantees. We formulate a method to find the optimal stream of these multi-period guarantees.</p>