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No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1496638 bytes, checksum: 2893b44019ce769fa24631dd3c1b7168 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Based on Stakeholder Theory, this dissertation sought verifying whether there is a relation of superiority regarding financial performance of companies that are member of Carbon Efficient Index (ICO2) against the ones that are only member of the marketing indices from BM&FBovespa: IBOV, IBrX-50, and IBrX-100. Initially, we have compared the members of ICO2 with the exclusive members from market indices, characterizing their portfolios and analyzing their market sectors. At a second moment, an analysis of liquidity and companies’ market stock return was conducted. Thereafter, a performance evaluation about these companies was carried out considering financial indicators from Sharpe, Treynor, and Jensen. The data analysis was limited to the period from September 2010 to December 2014 and the sample data comprised four indices from BM&Bovespa – ICO2, IBOV, IBrX-50, and IBrX-100. We have used Economatica system to extract market stock data from the companies selected. In this study we have decided to exclude shares that participated, simultaneously, in the stock market indices and ICO2 index. This dismemberment elucidated the large quantity of companies that were both member of ICO2 and stock market indices at the same time. We inferred that there is concern with sustainability investment between the companies member of the market indices which provide a satisfactory market perspective. We have observed distinct compositions on the indices analysed considering companies' portfolio characterization regarding the actuation sector. It's relevant to highlight that Finance and Insurance sector was the most representative sector at ICO2 portfolio. We analysed the liquidity using Board Liquidity and Average Volume. After the analysis, it has been noted that IBrX-50 companies got the best results followed by the sustainable companies. The companies' market stock return was evaluated by nonparametric tests such as Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon, and Mann-Whitney. Despite the fact that ICO2 have gotten the best result, overcoming the selected indices, there was no statistically significant connection among the historical series about the return of the indices. We have applied Engle-Granger (1987) cointegration test in order to infer any relevance on the long-term. The results take to an existence of a linear combination between the series of returns indices based on average returns. We had also inspected the performance of the indices considering Sharpe, Treynor, and Jensen indicators. This result imply that the ICO2 had the best performance according to Sharpe and Jensen indices still it was not very significative. Regarding the Treynor index, the ICO2 overcome the results of the marketing indices in the period analyzed. Thus, the relationship of superiority between the financial performance of sustainable business to their companies that are not classified as could not be confirmed. / Com base na Teoria dos Stakeholders, esta dissertação buscou verificar com se dá a relação entre o desempenho financeiro das empresas sustentáveis que participam do Índice do Carbono Eficiente (ICO2) frente às empresas que participam apenas dos índices Amplos da BM&FBovespa (IBOV, IBrX-50 e IBrX-100). Primeiro, comparou-se as ações das empresas participantes do ICO2 com as que participam apenas dos índices Amplos, caracterizando suas carteiras e analisando os seus setores de atuação no mercado. Em seguida, foi realizada uma análise da liquidez e do retorno das ações. Após esta análise, avaliou-se o desempenho delas por meio dos indicadores financeiros de Sharpe, Treynor e Jensen. A amostra consistiu em quatro índices que atuam na BM&FBovespa - ICO2, IBOV, IBrX-50 e IBrX-100 – que foram analisados considerando o período entre setembro de 2010 e dezembro de 2014. Todos os dados referentes ao mercado de ações foram coletados na base de dados Economática. Para o desenvolvimento do estudo, optou-se por excluir dos índices de mercado as ações que participavam simultaneamente do ICO2. Depois do desmembramento das carteiras, pode-se observar o alto percentual de empresas que participam do ICO2 e dos índices Amplos concomitantemente. Inferiu-se, portanto, que dentro do universo das empresas que compõem os índices que fornecem um panorama amplo do mercado existe a preocupação de investir em sustentabilidade. Na caracterização das carteiras das empresas com base no setor de atuação, observou-se que os índices possuem composições distintas. O setor Finanças e Seguros foi o mais representativo na carteira do ICO2. Para a análise da liquidez, utilizou-se os índices Liquidez em Bolsa e Volume Médio. Assim, constatou-se que, em termos de liquidez, as empresas sustentáveis ficaram atrás apenas das que compõem o IBrX-50. Em seguida, para análise dos retornos, utilizou-se os testes não paramétricos de Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon e Mann-Whitney. Apesar de o ICO2 ter obtido o maior resultado, superando os índices Amplos, não houve variação estatística significante entre a série histórica dos retornos dos índices. Para viabilizar inferências sobre a existência dessa relação em longo prazo, aplicou-se o teste de cointegração Engle e Granger (1987), com base no qual se verificou a existência de semelhança entre as séries de retornos médios dos índices. Finalmente, analisou-se o desempenho dos índices por meio dos indicadores financeiros de Sharpe, Treynor e Jensen. Verificou-se que, com relação aos resultados do Sharpe e Jensen, o ICO2 não obteve desempenho relevante, apesar de ter alcançado resultados superiores aos dos índices Amplos. Já em relação ao resultado do índice de Treynor, o ICO2 superou os índices Amplos no período analisado. Dessa maneira, a relação de superioridade entre o desempenho financeiro das empresas sustentáveis e as empresas que não são assim classificadas não pôde ser confirmada.

This is a study of how businesses might influence other businesses to move towards sustainability. Two health club businesses in North America actively participated and were selected because of their private ownership structureand their similar size and services. One health club had significant experience with working towards sustainability, and the other had little or no such experience. This is a descriptive study that applied an Active Research model in which researchers andbusiness management teams all actively participated. Five cycles of learning and adaptation are documented, including three work sessionsand initial and final interviews. Data from these five cycles were analysed to assess changes in perceptions of and knowledge about sustainability in business. We have concluded that the least experienced health club demonstrated sound increases in their knowledge and perception about sustainability. In addition, itis actively considering implementing select practices in itsfacilities that represent movement towards sustainability. The club with significant sustainability experience did not demonstrate increased knowledge or perceptions about sustainability, but did perceive value in the business-to-business sustainability discussions. / <p>Contact information: David Nelson: nelso213 (at) umn.edu, Renée Lazarowich: renee_lazarowich (at) yahoo.com</p>

According to U.S. Small Business Association, the failure rates for small businesses in 2014 were as high as 50% to 80% within the first 5 years of establishment. Failure rates were especially high among restaurant businesses. The purpose of this study was to explore the strategies that small business owners needed to sustain their businesses beyond the first 5 years. Guided by entrepreneurship theory as the conceptual framework, a case study was conducted with semistructured interviews of 3 successful Thai restaurant owners in Salt Lake City, Utah. Member checking and methodological triangulation with field notes, interview data, company websites, customer comments, and government documents help ensure theoretical saturation and trustworthiness of interpretations. Using precoded themes for the data analysis, the 7 themes from this study were entrepreneur characteristics, education and management skills, marketing strategies and competitive advantages, social networks and human relationships, technology and innovation, government supports and social responsibility, and financial planning. Two key results indicated the strategies that were needed for small business owners were entrepreneur management skills and government support for small businesses. These findings may influence positive social change by improving small business owner efficiency and sustainability, increasing higher business income, providing a better quality of living for employees and the well-being of the community, and benefiting the U.S. economy.

Esta pesquisa exploratória investigou como a filosofia de gestão de pessoas influencia a estratégia e a performance organizacional -_ um fenômeno contemporâneo de bastante interesse, não apenas da academia como também do ponto de vista da prática organizacional, devido à distância considerável entre a teoria e a prática da gestão estratégica de pessoas. Utilizou-se o método de estudo de multicasos com abordagem qualitativa, enfoque indutivo e perspectiva histórica, possibilitando, assim, maior abrangência analítica entre diferentes aspectos do fenômeno ocorrido ao longo da trajetória das quatro organizações estudadas. Trata-se de empresas de sucesso internacionalmente reconhecido que operam em diferentes setores, possuem configurações organizacionais distintas e têm suas origens na Austrália, Brasil, Canadá e Dinamarca. Os dados, oriundos de múltiplas fontes, foram coletados por meio de quatro técnicas distintas, incluindo a condução de 45 entrevistas semi-estruturadas e em profundidade com gerentes e não gerentes das quatro organizações. Os dados foram organizados por temas e categorias utilizando-se software específico para análise de pesquisa qualitativa. O mapeamento visual de dados longitudinais contribuiu para a síntese dos casos investigados e para a geração de insights. Os resultados desta pesquisa ilustram que a filosofia de gestão de pessoas, ou seja, o significado das pessoas no trabalho para os dirigentes da organização pode influenciar tanto a política e a estratégia de gestão de pessoas, como também, de forma significativa, o processo da estratégia e a performance organizacional ao longo da trajetória das empresas. A filosofia de gestão de pessoas pode também interferir na forma de interpretação do conceito de profissionalização ou modernização da gestão e na aplicação das ferramentas e modelos de gestão propostos pela academia. É curioso observar que, enquanto a literatura defende o alinhamento da gestão de pessoas a partir da estratégia empresarial como fórmula para o sucesso da organização, este estudo empírico aponta o sentido inverso da relação. Ou seja, a força motriz que define o alinhamento entre estratégia e gestão de pessoas nas empresas estudadas não tem sua base na estratégia empresarial, mas, sim, na filosofia de gestão de pessoas, aspecto esse que influencia de forma significativa, para não afirmar que determina a estratégia e o sucesso das organizações. Apesar de fazer sentido e de ocorrer na prática organizacional, tal possibilidade não está presente nos modelos de integração propostos pela literatura. / The theory and practice of strategic human resource management this research question is a contemporary issue of great interest not only from academics but also practitioners. On one hand researches and executives consider people as strategic assets and the source of sustainable business, but on the other hand the considerable gap between theory and practice remains a challenge. Therefore, this international muticase study investigated how the HR philosophy influences organizational strategy and business performance. By applying qualitative and inductive approach with a historical perspective, this exploratory research allowed a comprehensive analysis of various aspects of the research phenomenon occurred along the course of the four organizations. They are successful companies operating in different sectors, with very different organizational configurations. The cases are from Australia, Brazil, Canada and Denmark. The primary and secondary data, from multiple sources, were collected by four different techniques, including 45 semi-structured and in-depth interviews with managers and non-managers from these four organizations. Data were organized by themes and categories using specific software for qualitative research analysis. The visual mapping of historical data helped build and present the case studies and generate insights. The results of this research show that the HR philosophy, that is, the meaning of people at work for the leadership, influences not only the HR policy & strategy, but significantly the organizational strategy process and business performance over the organizational life time, including the way leadership interprets the concept of management professionalization and implements management models & tools proposed by the academy. It is interesting to note that while the literature suggests the alignment of HRM from the business strategy, this empirical study shows the opposite direction of the relationship, that is, the driving force that defines the alignment between strategy and HRM is not the business strategy, but the HR philosophy, which strongly influenced, not to say that determined the strategy and success of organizations. Despite making sense, this possibility is not considered in the many models of people strategy performance integration proposed by the literature.

In the United States, 20% of newly established small businesses, including small businesses in the life insurance industry, fail within 2 years, and over 50% of them fail during the first 5 years. The purpose of this multiple case study was to identify and explore the strategies that life insurance brokerage owners use to sustain business operations beyond 5 years. Porter's 5 forces model served as the conceptual framework for exploring this subject matter. Owners of 3 separate small life insurance brokerage firms in Texas, who sustained their businesses beyond 5 years, participated in semistructured interviews. A secondary source of data was relevant company documents. Methodological triangulation and member checking assured the reliability and validity of the interpretations. Through thematic analysis and supporting software, 5 themes emerged: exceptional customer service, relationship-building, efficient promotional strategies, regular training of salespersons, and hiring the right employees. The application of the findings of the study could contribute to positive social change by reducing unemployment and thereby catalyzing an economic environment supporting employees, families, and communities.

Business leaders lack transformational leadership strategies to promote the use of digital communication in the electricity supply industry. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore transformational leadership strategies to promote the use of digital communication to mitigate electricity-related shutdowns and other electricity-related product recalls. The conceptual framework for this study aligns with general systems theory. The participants recruited in the study were business leaders, key account electricity consumers, and electricity consumers located in Johannesburg, South Africa. The rationale for the target population was their success in implementing transformational leadership strategies to promote the use of digital communication to mitigate the risk of electricity-related shutdowns. Data collection included semistructured interviews, direct observations with 14 participants, archival records/materials, and documents. Saldana's sequence of coding and data analysis technique using thematic coding and content analysis were used to determine specific themes and patterns derived from the 3 data sources. Based on methodological triangulation, 4 emergent themes evolved: business sustainability, digital media, electricity-related product recall crisis, and leadership efficacy that would assist leaders in growing a sustainable business in the electricity supply industry. The results of this study may contribute to positive social change by providing leaders with transformational leadership strategies for embracing digital media to ensure the industry's sustainability. This in turn would encourage improved economic activity, broad-based black economic empowerment, investments in health, education, environmental issues, and business opportunities for small businesses.

Small businesses are considered the backbone of the U.S. economy with significant contributions in the areas of job creation and economic development. However, 79% of small businesses fail within the first 5 years. This multiple case study aimed to explore strategies and knowledge of resources that owners of small businesses used to sustain business operations for longer than the first 5 years. The population included 5 minority owners of small businesses in Texas. Chaos theory formed the conceptual framework. The data collection process included semistructured interviews, member checks, field notes, company artifacts, and archival documents. Data were analyzed using Yin's data analysis steps of compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, and concluding. Three themes emerged from the analysis: effective management of the business environment, effective planning, and business owners' skills and knowledge. The U.S. Small Business Administration, local chambers of commerce, and owners of small businesses may benefit from the findings of this study by gaining an understanding of successful minority owners of small businesses' implemented strategies that enable business success and profitability. The implications of this study for positive social change include identifying sustainable strategies minority owners of small businesses can use to advance business growth, increase financial security, achieve employee job sustainability, and potentially stimulate the local community with job creation.

Esta pesquisa exploratória investigou como a filosofia de gestão de pessoas influencia a estratégia e a performance organizacional -_ um fenômeno contemporâneo de bastante interesse, não apenas da academia como também do ponto de vista da prática organizacional, devido à distância considerável entre a teoria e a prática da gestão estratégica de pessoas. Utilizou-se o método de estudo de multicasos com abordagem qualitativa, enfoque indutivo e perspectiva histórica, possibilitando, assim, maior abrangência analítica entre diferentes aspectos do fenômeno ocorrido ao longo da trajetória das quatro organizações estudadas. Trata-se de empresas de sucesso internacionalmente reconhecido que operam em diferentes setores, possuem configurações organizacionais distintas e têm suas origens na Austrália, Brasil, Canadá e Dinamarca. Os dados, oriundos de múltiplas fontes, foram coletados por meio de quatro técnicas distintas, incluindo a condução de 45 entrevistas semi-estruturadas e em profundidade com gerentes e não gerentes das quatro organizações. Os dados foram organizados por temas e categorias utilizando-se software específico para análise de pesquisa qualitativa. O mapeamento visual de dados longitudinais contribuiu para a síntese dos casos investigados e para a geração de insights. Os resultados desta pesquisa ilustram que a filosofia de gestão de pessoas, ou seja, o significado das pessoas no trabalho para os dirigentes da organização pode influenciar tanto a política e a estratégia de gestão de pessoas, como também, de forma significativa, o processo da estratégia e a performance organizacional ao longo da trajetória das empresas. A filosofia de gestão de pessoas pode também interferir na forma de interpretação do conceito de profissionalização ou modernização da gestão e na aplicação das ferramentas e modelos de gestão propostos pela academia. É curioso observar que, enquanto a literatura defende o alinhamento da gestão de pessoas a partir da estratégia empresarial como fórmula para o sucesso da organização, este estudo empírico aponta o sentido inverso da relação. Ou seja, a força motriz que define o alinhamento entre estratégia e gestão de pessoas nas empresas estudadas não tem sua base na estratégia empresarial, mas, sim, na filosofia de gestão de pessoas, aspecto esse que influencia de forma significativa, para não afirmar que determina a estratégia e o sucesso das organizações. Apesar de fazer sentido e de ocorrer na prática organizacional, tal possibilidade não está presente nos modelos de integração propostos pela literatura. / The theory and practice of strategic human resource management this research question is a contemporary issue of great interest not only from academics but also practitioners. On one hand researches and executives consider people as strategic assets and the source of sustainable business, but on the other hand the considerable gap between theory and practice remains a challenge. Therefore, this international muticase study investigated how the HR philosophy influences organizational strategy and business performance. By applying qualitative and inductive approach with a historical perspective, this exploratory research allowed a comprehensive analysis of various aspects of the research phenomenon occurred along the course of the four organizations. They are successful companies operating in different sectors, with very different organizational configurations. The cases are from Australia, Brazil, Canada and Denmark. The primary and secondary data, from multiple sources, were collected by four different techniques, including 45 semi-structured and in-depth interviews with managers and non-managers from these four organizations. Data were organized by themes and categories using specific software for qualitative research analysis. The visual mapping of historical data helped build and present the case studies and generate insights. The results of this research show that the HR philosophy, that is, the meaning of people at work for the leadership, influences not only the HR policy & strategy, but significantly the organizational strategy process and business performance over the organizational life time, including the way leadership interprets the concept of management professionalization and implements management models & tools proposed by the academy. It is interesting to note that while the literature suggests the alignment of HRM from the business strategy, this empirical study shows the opposite direction of the relationship, that is, the driving force that defines the alignment between strategy and HRM is not the business strategy, but the HR philosophy, which strongly influenced, not to say that determined the strategy and success of organizations. Despite making sense, this possibility is not considered in the many models of people strategy performance integration proposed by the literature.

An initial analysis of sustainable project life cycle management methodologies’ current status highlighted that social and environmental aspects of sustainable development are not addressed effectively. An acceptable model aimed at addressing the various sustainable development aspects from a project management perspective is thus needed. This study’s main research objective was consequently to develop the different elements of such a model for social business sustainability. The research focused on the three main research questions discussed below. Which lifecycles should be considered when evaluating the project’s possible impacts? Projects implement or deliver certain products, which in turn, can produce other commodities sold by the company. The three lifecycles, i.e. project, asset and product, were studied to determine which lifecycles to consider when evaluating projects’ possible impacts. It was concluded that it is specifically the project’s deliverables and its associated products that have economic, social and environmental consequences. These life cycles must therefore be considered as part of the project life cycle when evaluating social impacts. What social business sustainability impacts or aspects should be considered in the project life cycle? A sustainable development framework that can be applied to projects directly to ensure their alignment with sustainable development does not exist at present. A social sustainability assessment framework as part of a sustainability assessment framework for operational initiatives was consequently developed and introduced. The social framework was verified and validated by means of case studies, a survey and a Delphi Technique case study to test the framework’s completeness and relevance. How should project management methodologies be adopted to ensure incorporation of social business sustainability? The research indicated that the various social aspects are addressed in different ways in the individual asset life cycle phase. The social criteria in the framework should therefore also be addressed in different ways in the project management methodologies. A Social Impact Indicator (SII) calculation procedure, based on a previously introduced Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) calculation procedure for environmental Resource Impact Indicators (RIIs), was developed as a method to evaluate social impacts in the project life cycle phases. Case studies in the process industry and statistical information for South Africa have been used to establish information availability for the SII calculation procedure. / Thesis (PhD (Engineering Management))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) / unrestricted

Bakgrund och problem: Diskussionen kring huruvida företag är hållbara och bidrar till en hållbar samhällsutveckling är mer aktuell än någonsin. Tidigare studier pekar på vikten av att uppnå ett företagande som går i linje med en långsiktigt hållbar utveckling. Skogsindustrin lyfts ofta fram som en viktig industri för att uppnå hållbarhet på sikt, men det finns kritik mot att industrin inte tar tillräcklig hänsyn till biologisk mångfald och klimatfrågan. Det krävs fortfarande ett omfattande arbete för att industrin ska bidra till en långsiktigt hållbar utveckling. De som använder sig av skogsråvara i sin produktion spelar en viktig roll som påverkare av tidigare led i försörjningskedjan. Syfte och metod: Denna studies syfte är att öka förståelsen för hur varuproducerande företag med trä som råvara ser på sitt ansvar för att sträva efter en långsiktigt hållbar utveckling inom nordisk skogsindustri. För att uppnå syftet antar denna studie en kvalitativ forskningsansats där insamlingsmetoden är semistrukturerade intervjuer med åtta respondenter från sex företag. Företagens syn på hållbarhet representeras av respondenternas beskrivning av företagens arbete med hållbarhet och synen på den nordiska skogsindustrin. Slutsatser: Företagen som befinner sig i mitten av den nordiska skogsindustrins försörjningskedja har en långsiktig hållbarhetssyn som stannar på mikronivå inom företaget. Företagen anser att de tar ansvar för hållbarhet genom att använda sig av olika hållbarhetscertifieringar, men de ser få anledningar till att utöka ansvaret utanför dessa ramar då de litar på standardernas reglerande funktion. Dessutom beskriver de deras möjlighet att påverka skogsbolagen till att använda sig av mer hållbara praktiker som begränsad och att detta ansvar i stället bör ligga hos tidigare led i försörjningskedjan såsom sågverk och massaföretag. / Background: The need to implement sustainable business practices is a growing concern given the current state of extensive environmental damage caused by the negative effects of industrialization. Previous studies indicate that fostering sustainable businesses and business practices is important to achieving long-term sustainable development across society. Forestry is frequently highlighted as an important industry that is poised as a key agent in remedying many environmental problems. However, several critics insist that the forestry industry fails to account for their impact on biodiversity and climate change. A comprehensive study of how the forestry industry can contribute to a sustainable future is necessary. Particularly pertinent to this discussion are businesses that use forest raw material in their production as key drivers of earlier stages in the supply chain. Purpose and method: The purpose of this study is to analyze how manufacturing businesses that use wood as a main raw material perceive their responsibility towards longterm sustainable development in Nordic forestry. This study takes a qualitative approach in which semi-structured interviews with eight respondents from six enterprises were collected and analyzed. From this sample of respondents’ description of the workplace’s measures towards sustainability, or lack thereof, and their view of the Nordic forestry industry, this study investigated what businesses understood was the extent of responsibility towards sustainability. Results and conclusion: The companies in the middle of the Nordic forestry’s supply chain have a long-run perception of sustainability which ends at a micro-level within the enterprise. These companies often believe that they act responsibly towards sustainability by observing and holding to sustainability certifications. However, these companies also do not see reason for implementing measures towards sustainability beyond these frameworks as they trust that these standards’ regulatory functions are sufficient. Furthermore, they describe their ability to influence forest owners and other companies within the forestry industry as limited. Instead, their perception is that more responsibility towards sustainable development in the Nordic forestry industry should lie with sawmills and pulp companies.