This study examines the triple bottom line of sustainability, in the context of both profit-oriented and non-profit oriented organizations. Sustainability is a compound result of interaction between economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Sustainability cannot be achieved without balance between all three dimensions, which has implications for measuring sustainability and prioritizing goals. This study demonstrates a method for measuring organizational sustainability achievement in these three dimensions of sustainability. Content analysis of the annual reports of corporations from the United States, Continental Europe (and Scandinavia), and Asia reveals that the economic dimension remains the preeminent aspect, and corporations still have a long way to go to reach comprehensive sustainability by maintaining a balance between the three dimensions of sustainability. The analysis also shows a high level of isomorphism in the sustainability practices of corporations, suggesting that even the most sustainable corporations are taking a somewhat passive role in prioritizing sustainability goals. A list of 25 terms for each dimension of sustainability (economic, environmental, and social) has been developed which can be used by corporations to develop and communicate their sustainability practices most effectively to the maximum number of their stakeholders. In contrast, botanical gardens demonstrate more balance among the three dimensions of sustainability.

This dissertation comprised of three essays provides justification for the need to pursue research on multinationality and performance with a more fine-grained approach. Essay one is a conceptual response to an article written by Jean-Francois Hennart in 2011 which questions the need and approach toward future research in this domain. I argue that internalization theory does not render multinationality and performance research meaningless and identify key areas where methodological enhancements can be made to strengthen our research findings with regard to Hennart’s call for more content validity. Essay two responds to the need for more-fine grained research on the consequences of multinationality by introducing non-traditional measures of performance such as social and environmental performance and adopting a more theoretically relevant construct of regionalization to capture international diversification levels of the firm. Using data from the world’s largest 600 firms (based on sales) derived from Bloomberg and the Directory of Corporate Affiliates; I employ general estimating equation analysis to account for the auto-correlated nature of the panel data alongside multivariate regression techniques. Results indicate that regionalization has a positive relationship with economic performance while it has a negative relationship with environmental and social performance outcomes, often referred to as the “Triple Bottom-Line” performance. Essay three builds upon the work in the previous essays by linking the aforementioned performance variables and sample to corporate reputation which has been shown to be a beneficial strategic asset. Using Structural Equation Modeling I explore economic, environmental and social signals as mediators on relationship between regionalization and firm reputation. Results indicate that these variables partially mediate a positive relationship between regionalization and firm reputation. While regionalization positively affects the reputation building signal of economic performance, it aids in reputation building by reducing environmental and social disclosure effects which interestingly impact reputation negatively. In conclusion, the dissertation submits opportunities for future research and contributes to research by demonstrating that regionalization affects performance, but the effect varies in accordance with the performance criterion and context. In some cases, regional diversification may produce competing or conflicting outcomes among the potential strategic objectives of the firm.

La presente investigación busca describir el contexto en el cual aparecen los principios rectores sobre derechos humanos y empresa PREDH (capítulo I), la implementación en la legislación comparada, organizaciones y sectores empresariales de los principios en las empresas a través del respeto de los derechos humanos (capítulo II). Finalmente, desarrollamos la aplicación del due diligence en derechos humanos en la empresa y su conexión con la RSE (capítulo III). / Trabajo de investigación

Le concept de contrats d'affaires semble ignoré de la théorie générale du contrat. Une recherche juridique sur les contrats d'affaires traduit par conséquent une perception critique de cette théorie générale. A travers l'identification des contrats d'affaires par la construction d'une notion d'intérêt économique, puis leur réalisation grâce à une approche réaliste du droit des contrats, les recherches sur les contrats d'affaires visent à construire une méthode qui permet de saisir les réalités économiques dans le raisonnement juridique. Au moyen pris d'une analyse économique du contrat d'une part et d'une analyse économique du droit des contrats d'autre part, l'étude exprime ainsi une théorie réaliste du contrat qui vient discuter en opportunité des principes et de la méthode de la théorie générale du contrat, analysée comme une approche normativiste du droit des contrats. Cette théorie propose alors d'expliquer pourquoi et comment un juge choisirait de s'affranchir des prescriptions de la théorie générale du contrat pour trancher un litige qui le nécessiterait. / Business is not inclued as well in french general theory of contract. Legal research on business contracts seems therefore to be a critical view on that general theory. Throuhg the identification of a notion of business contract, then through its materialization thanks to a realist approach to Contracts Law, legal research on business contracts aim at a method which could get economic reality in legal reasoning. An economic analysis of contract on the one hand and an economic analysis of Contract Law on the other hand express a realist theory of contract, which discuss equity about principles and method of the french general theory of contract and the normative approach of Law. This realist theory introduce a method to explain why and how a judge would choose to throw off general theory's rules to decide on a case, when it would have seemed necessary.

La configuration du droit des affaires en Afrique est intimement liée à l’histoire coloniale, histoire d’une compétition entre puissances qui se décline aujourd’hui en compétition de fait entre systèmes juridiques. Le processus de l’OHADA, entamé et mené en grande pompe, s’est contenté d’une harmonisation interne du droit des pays civilistes, avec une large coïncidence entre les règles adoptés et celles qui constituent le droit français des affaires. Ce droit « harmonisé » des affaires laisse donc de côté le droit des pays de common law, l’autre facette du paysage juridique africain et il s’en dégage des clivages entre juristes de deux bords.Mais les clivages ne se limitent pas à cette dichotomie droit civil-common law. A côté de ces systèmes proclamés, existe une régulation informelle dont la prise en compte est indispensable à qui veut comprendre la règle qui régit les affaires en Afrique. L’enjeu est dès lors multiple : Un rapprochement est souhaitable et possible entre le droit OHADA et la common law. La proximité entre les pays et les peuples dont relèvent ces deux systèmes est telle qu’on se demande comment est-ce possible de maintenir les cloisons. Rapprocher la common law de l’OHADA ne voudrait pourtant pas dire les remplacer par un système de substitution et de consensus, belle vue de l’esprit du reste. C’est donc plus la compatibilité que l’uniformité qui est recherchée. Cet objectif parait en tout cas plus en adéquation avec la logique de recherche d’attractivité qui est celle du droit des affaires. Cette étude insiste donc sur cette ouverture vers « l’autre » système, tout en soulignant l’importance du secteur informel, des us et coutumes qui en découlent. / The configuration of business law in Africa is intimately linked to its colonial history, a story of competition between powerful groups, evident today in the competition between legal systems. The process of “OHADA”, which started with such ceremony, has ultimately contented itself with an internal harmonization of the legal systems of countries with a civil law system. There is a notable correlation between the adopted rules and French business law. This “harmonized” law, therefore, ignores countries with common law systems, the other facet of the African legal landscape, generating tensions between lawyers on both sides.Nevertheless, the divisions are not limited to the dichotomy civil law-common law. Informal regulation exists alongside both these legal systems, and they must be taken into account if the rules that govern business in Africa are to be understood. This generates a multiple challenge: bringing OHADA law and common law closer is both desirable and possible. The proximity between these people and countries is too close to justify the existing differences. Nevertheless, bringing common law and OHADA closer, does not mean replacing them with a new common system, which seems unrealistic. Compatibility, rather than uniformity, would be the desired result, offering a better fit with the search of attractiveness, which is in the essence of business law. This study therefore promotes an open approach of the “other” system, while underlining the importance of the informal sector, based on custom and usages.

LLM / Department of Mercantile Law / Business rescue provisions are meant to assist a financially distressed company. It seems that the success of business rescue rests on three factors, namely a competent business rescue practitioner and a practicable business rescue plan; the consent and cooperation of shareholders and creditors. However, academics and case law point out concerns as to the regulation of the aforementioned essential ingredients. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the level of the efficacy of the Companies Act provisions on business rescue as contained in Chapter 6. The researcher compares the current business rescue regime and the previous judicial management procedure to find out how the current regime can be improved. Since the business rescue regime was adopted from other jurisdictions the researcher also compares the practices in some of those jurisdictions with that of South Africa to establish the goals and expectations of business rescue in modern corporate operations. / NRF

En kapitaltäckningsgaranti kan användas för att rädda ett aktiebolag som hamnar i en kapitalbristsituation från likvidationsplikt. En kapitaltäckningsgaranti innebär att en fysisk eller juridisk person avger ett ensidigt löfte om att tillskjuta medel till det mottagande aktiebolaget om ekonomin försämras till den grad att det registrerade aktiekapitalet understiger hälften. En sådan situation är ålagd handlingsdirigerande regler som kan resultera i likvidation enligt 25 kap. Aktiebolagslag (2005:551), ABL. Genom att en garant åtar sig att vid avrop eller enligt överenskommelse tillskjuta medel till mottagaren kan verksamheten fortsätta bedrivas. Kapitaltäckningsgarantier regleras inte i ABL utan har istället varit föremål för diskussion i den juridiska doktrinen. Eftersom reglerna om kapitalbrist är uppställda i borgenärsintresse diskuteras ofta frågor kopplade till det bolaget som mottar en kapitaltäckningsgaranti. Enligt vår mening saknas det diskussion kring hur ett aktiebolag som garant kan påverkas av ett sådant åtagande. En fråga som uppstår är huruvida det överhuvudtaget kan anses rationellt att ställa ut en kapitaltäckningsgaranti och betydelsen av huruvida det sker inom eller utom ett koncernförhållande. Eftersom utställande av en kapitaltäckningsgaranti innebär att garanten tar på sig en ekonomisk risk bör det anses fördelaktigt om garanten kan kontrollera åtagandet i största möjliga utsträckning. Genom att en kapitaltäckningsgaranti utställs till ett bolag som garanten har insyn i och kan kontrollera kan potentiella risker minimeras. Garanten kan även se till att skyldigheterna enligt garantin begränsas för att uppnå förutsebarhet. I en koncern ska styrelsen i moderbolaget verka för koncernens bästa. För det fall en kapitaltäckningsgaranti ställs ut inom ett koncernförhållande innebär det att utställaren bör gynnas av mottagarens ekonomiska förbättring. Ett åtagande som sker mellan bolag i samma koncern innebär dessutom ett ökat skydd för garantens minoritetsaktieägare eftersom utställandet sker i bolagets intresse vilket även innebär att kapitaltäckningsgarantin är utställd i aktieägarnas intresse.

The manner by which courts view performance appraisals in relation to the outcome of case is certainly a topic worthy of discussion. Utilizing the framework used within the work of Werner and Bolino (1997), the following study was able to accomplish two main goals: (1) update the information of Werner and Bolino (1997) by evaluating modern cases, and (2) to evaluate new data regarding age discrimination utilizing the same framework as Werner and Bolino (1997). Utilizing chi-square analysis to test all of the hypotheses, it was demonstrated that there was statistical significance in performance appraisals with the presence of a job analysis regarding court outcome. Other variables such as appraisal basis (trait, behavioral, MBO), triangulation, and appraisal frequency did not have any statistical significance. Out of the six new hypotheses tested, all showed statistical significance except for one. These hypotheses showcased the immense differences in how different forms of discrimination are viewed by the court even with respect to the performance appraisal. This was especially true with age discrimination in comparison to every other form of discrimination. In conclusion the following study accomplished its two main goals by displaying consistency with Werner and Bolino’s work and successfully evaluating new variables to support the hypotheses that involve differences between different forms of discrimination and the outcome of the court case.

I denna uppsats analyseras sex olika platsannonser för biträdande jurister inom affärsjuridik. Syftet är att undersöka huruvida platsannonserna är könskodade eller inte för att kunna bidra till jämställdhetsfrågan inom yrket. Det är i dag fler kvinnor än män som fullföljer juristutbildningen och därmed får en juristexamen, vilket speglar sig i att det är fler kvinnliga biträdande jurister inom affärsjuridiska yrket men sedan händer det något ju högre upp en tar sig i karriären. Med hjälp av en kritisk diskursanalys analyseras platsannonsernas konstruerande av den ideala biträdande juristen för att undersöka huruvida denne tillskrivs typiskt kvinnliga eller manliga egenskaper. Därtill genomförs en jämförelse för huruvida advokatbyråernas storlek påverkar hur den ideala biträdande juristen konstrueras och i vilken utsträckning det förekommer könskodning i annonserna.  Resultatet visar att den ideala biträdande juristen konstrueras som en individ som kan arbeta väl i team och därmed har en god samarbetsförmåga, hen levererar alltid högkvalitet och är därmed högpresterande. Dessutom är den ideala biträdande juristen kompetent, engagerad och mångsidig. Har inte individen tagit juristexamen är det inte långt kvar. Av de 126 egenskaper som den ideala biträdande juristen konstrueras med har i könskodningen, utifrån tidigare forsknings könsmärkta ord och egenskaper, 51,6 procent kodats som könsneutrala, 32,5 procent som feminina och enbart 15,9 procent som maskulina. Könskodningen tyder på att platsannonserna inte spelar någon avgörande roll för huruvida det existerar jämställdhet i entrén till den affärsjuridiska världen eller inte. Uppsatsen kartlägger hur den ideala biträdande juristen konstrueras och belyser vilken roll platsannonsernas utformning spelar för skapandet av den sociala identiteten och könskodning.

Companies have taken the initiative to be socially responsible over the years. In the past, the focus for companies has been on maximizing wealth. With the growth of corporate social responsibility (CSR), there has been many debates regarding its benefits. More companies are beginning to realize the value of being socially responsible and how critical it is to business function. This paper researches past studies on the relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance. This relationship is then tested using a reliable source of data on corporate social responsibility performance. This study uniquely looks at the accounting and market-based measurements of financial performance. The dataset includes most of the S&P 500 firms and covers years 2005-2014. An empirical model is constructed which includes factors that were found significant in the works of Capon, Farley, and Hoenig (1990). The relationships are tested using cross-sector/panel data time-series regressions. Results indicate that CSR and the accounting measurements of financial performance are positively related. CSR and the market-based measurements of financial performance are negatively related. This suggests that CSR positively affects a company’s profits and negatively affects future stock returns. One interpretation of this result is that socially responsible stocks have a lower required rates of return. The results indicate that since investors are more willing to invest in CSR stocks, these firms end up experiencing lower future stock returns. The results are consistent with past studies and support the hypotheses.