The 1993 Collective Bargaining Agreement changed the way that the National Football League operated with its player contracts. With the introduction of the salary cap and free agency players were given more freedom in where they took their talents while keeping the competitive balance of the league intact. There have been revisions and changes since the 1993 landmark CBA, specifically the 2011 CBA created changes mostly in the way that rookie salary and contract regulations function. This paper looks at whether the policy changes affected the competitive balance of the National Football League. Looking at point differential, competitive fairness, and winning percentage we found that the newest CBA did not create any significant changes in the competitive fairness of the league.

Les pôles de compétitivité français résultent de décisions publiques qui conduisent à l’établissement de stratégies internes. L’Etat évalue depuis 2006 l’efficacité et l’intérêt de ces structures dont l’utilité reste controversée.Ce travail de recherche porte sur le fonctionnement et l’évolution du modèle économique des pôles de compétitivité. La méthodologie mobilisée est basée sur l’analyse du fonctionnement interne de Cap Digital, pôle de compétitivité de contenus et services numériques, basé en Ile-de-France. L’approche terrain permet de comprendre le fonctionnement de ces associations et leur interaction avec les PME, de savoir quelles sont leurs limites et leurs difficultés et de supposer quelles actions seront susceptibles d’être mises en place pour pallier ces difficultés. Enfin, en s’appuyant sur les réussites et les limites expérimentés par les pôles de compétitivité franciliens, l’accent est mis sur la transposabilité du modèle des pôles au Maroc, afin de déterminer quels sont les éléments essentiels pour garantir le succès des pôles dans un contexte socio-économique différent. / French clusters are the result of public decisions leading to internal strategies. These strategies evolve following the evaluation procedure implemented by the State since 2006. The efficiency of these structures remain controversial.This research deals with clusters’ economic model and their evolution. The methodology is based on the analysis of the French cluster for digital contents and services Cap Digital, based in the Paris Region. The focus on the operational side of the cluster helps understanding the functioning of these associations as well as their interaction with SME, as well as their limits and difficulties. Finally, the lessons driven from the experience of French clusters are used in order to question the relevance and feasibility of transposing the cluster model in Morocco.

No description available.

La présente recherche tente d’identifier et de décrire les conditions d’implantation qui ont été mises en place dans deux écoles élémentaires francophones de l’Ontario pour atteindre un stade de fonctionnement avancé, soit l’intégration (Leclerc, Moreau et Lépine, 2009a) des communautés d’apprentissage professionnelles (CAP). En utilisant un échantillon de directions d’école et d’enseignants qui travaillent à l’intérieur d’écoles où les CAP sont à un tel stade de fonctionnement, notre recherche a permis de relever quelles conditions ont été mises en place pour atteindre un fonctionnement avancé des CAP. Des entrevues semi-dirigées ont été menées auprès de deux directrices et de quatre enseignantes d’écoles élémentaires franco-ontariennes. Ces entrevues abordaient de grands thèmes tels que la structure des CAP, la culture de collaboration et les processus employés en CAP dans le contexte de l’école. Un questionnaire sur le sentiment d’efficacité personnelle fut aussi rempli par les directrices d’école. Les résultats mettent en évidence le rôle complexe de la direction d’école dans la mise en œuvre des CAP tout en précisant les conditions d’implantation des CAP mises de l’avant par deux directrices d’école. En fait, nous relevons l’importance de recevoir des appuis humains et financiers et un soutien par la recherche; d’instaurer des exigences organisationnelles « préparatoires »; de respecter des exigences organisationnelles de mise en place des CAP; d’assurer que la direction et les membres du conseil scolaire aient confiance et soient compétents; d’instaurer un leadership partagé entre la direction, le conseil scolaire et les enseignants du comité d’amélioration du rendement des élèves (CARE); de rédiger des objectifs SMART à partir de ressources particulières et aménager un parcours de fonctionnement; d’établir des structures physiques et d’encourager une culture de collaboration entre les enseignants. Les résultats de notre étude rejoignent ce qu’avancent les recherches au sujet de l’implantation de la structure organisationnelle – CAP – dans une école. Or, notre recherche sur le terrain permet d’apporter des précisions quant à ces conditions d’implantation. D’ailleurs, nous avons recensé certaines sous-catégories thématiques qui ne sont pas reflétées explicitement dans la littérature.

La présente recherche vise à comprendre l’implantation qui a été mise en oeuvre dans six écoles, élémentaires et secondaires, du Nouveau-Brunswick, de l’Ontario et du Québec, pour atteindre un stade avancé dans le fonctionnement en communauté d’apprentissage professionnelle (CAP). Notre recherche s’inscrit dans le cadre du projet de recherche pancanadien d’IsaBelle, Davidson, Fournier, Rochon et Chiptin (2010). Le choix des écoles participant à cette étude émane des trois critères suivants : a) avoir atteint un stade avancé (stade 2 ou 3) dans le fonctionnement en CAP selon la grille des comportements associés aux stades d’évolution des CAP d’IsaBelle, Rochon, Génier et Lamothe, (2012), b) observer une certaine augmentation dans les résultats des élèves durant les deux ou trois dernières années selon les données de l’école ou selon la perception des directions et c) la direction devait être en poste dans la même école depuis au moins trois ans et les enseignants devaient avoir une expérience d’au moins trois ans dans le fonctionnement en CAP. Notre recherche s’inscrit dans le courant qualitatif interprétatif; elle cherche à comprendre le sens de l’expérience vécue par des acteurs (directions et enseignants) dans une structure axée sur un fonctionnement en CAP. Cette recherche tente de décrire, à partir du vécu des directions d’école et des enseignants, les conditions favorables à l’implantation et à la progression du fonctionnement en CAP dans les écoles élémentaires et secondaires ayant un fonctionnement avancé. Dans les six écoles, des entrevues semi-dirigées ont été menées auprès de la direction et de deux enseignants d’école élémentaire et l’école secondaire. Les questions posées dans les entrevues ont été élaborées à partir des conditions d’implantation mentionnées dans les écrits et à partir du modèle de la dynamique d’interaction développé par Corriveau, Boyer et Fernandez (2009) qui s’appuie sur la théorie de la structuration d’Anthony Giddens (1987). De là, trois grands thèmes ont été abordés dans la grille d’entrevue : la structure organisationnelle, la structure relationnelle et la structure identitaire.

This thesis presents a detailed study of recent changes in the mass balance and dynamics of Penny Ice Cap (PIC), and projects its evolution under a warming climate. Mass losses from 2005-2014 were quantified from airborne altimetry elevation change measurements, and adjusted for vertical ice motion caused by firn compaction and/or ice dynamics. Mass loss from PIC increased four-fold between the mid-1990s (-1.3 ± 0.7 Gt a-1) and 2005-2013 (-5.4 ± 1.9 Gt a-1). The adjustment calculations indicate that mass loss may be overestimated by 19% if vertical motion is not properly accounted for. The velocity response to increased surface melt was quantified using satellite imagery and historical ground measurements from Highway Glacier, on the southern part of PIC. Over the period 1985-2011, the six largest outlet glaciers on the ice cap decelerated at an average rate of 21 m a-1 over the 26 year period (0.81 m a-1), or 12% decade-1. Highway Glacier decelerated by 71% between 1953 and 2009/11. The recent slowdown of outlet glaciers has coincided with increases in mass loss and an inferred reduction in basal sliding. The ice-cap-wide mass balance was modeled from 1958 to 2099 with an enhanced temperature index model. Since the mid-1990s mass balance rates over PIC have become increasingly negative. Peak mass loss is projected to occur in the late 2070s and PIC is expected to lose 16-20% of its 2014 ice volume by 2099 assuming a moderate climate warming scenario (RCP4.5). If a +2°C offset is applied to this scenario, the ice cap is expected to lose 30-40% of its initial ice volume by 2099. These results provide the first comprehensive evaluation of the impact of vertical ice motion on mass loss derived from geodetic measurements over a large Arctic ice cap. The ice velocity record provides insights into the relationship between surface melt rates and glacier motion over the past 30-60 years. This study projects the mass change of the largest ice cap in the southern Canadian Arctic to 2099, calibrated and validated with a wealth of spatially distributed data for the first time.

The business environment is currently typified by rapid and ongoing change, which causes the future to be increasingly unpredictable and unsettled. Companies are struggling to maintain their competitive edge and to survive. It is therefore important that management should ensure that the necessary competencies and abilities are available to enable the coordination of both diversifies and specialized functions within the organisation, providing for current and future requirements. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between embarking on the Competency Acquisition Process (CAP) learning program for account managers and work performance. In order to attain this goal, the primary focus of the literature study was investigating what a learning organisation is, the importance and principles of a learning organisation, the types of learning and characteristics and approaches to a learning organisation. The company as a learning organisation and CAP was defined. Learning is then linked to performance by looking at the relationship between the two variables and also comparing the traditional approach of training with learning as a process. A questionnaire was designed consisting of forced-choice questions and answers and some open-ended questions. The purpose was to survey a large number of people about the topic of the research. Percentage in sales growth per sales staff member was obtained from the sales database department, and correlations were made with CAP progress data on SAP HR. From the analysis of data the following results were apparent: <ul> <li>--Embarking on CAP improved the relationship between subordinates and management and also assisted in improving teamwork amongst team members.</li> <li>--Most sales staff believes that CAP significantly influenced their In Trade Outlet Survey (ITOS) ratings.</li> <li>--CAP assisted the company in gaining a larger market share.</li> <li>--The majority of the respondents strongly agreed that the competencies and knowledge gained through CAP assisted them in increasing their sales of carbonated soft drinks.</li> <li>--CAP is believed to have improved the company’s Customer Service Measurement.</li> <li>--CAP significantly improved the levels of confidence of the sales staff.</li> <li>--99 % of the respondents believe that the Value Chain learning outcome positively influenced their work performance.</li> <li>--99 % of the respondents believe that the learning outcome: Knowledge of how sales fits in the Value Chain positively influenced their work performance.</li> <li>--Every respondent in the survey believed the product knowledge module had a positive impact on their work performance.</li> <li>--CAP emerged to be the learning intervention that has the most impact on the work performance of sales staff, followed by coaching by managers and the Sales Academy.</li> <li>--The results of the survey indicated that 96 % of the respondents believe that CAP was a worthwhile initiative.</li> </ul> Significant differences were found in sales growth since embarking on CAP between different race groups. Significant differences for CAP progress were found in respect of different plants. The research aimed to prove the hypothesis that CAP improved work performance. The core measurement of sales staff is growing sales volume, with all the other measurements measured in the questionnaire supporting this core function. Copyright 2005, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Bergh, C 2005, The impact of a competency acquisition process on the work performance of sales staff, MCom dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-06212005-084440 / > / Dissertation (MCom (Human Resources Management))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Human Resource Management / unrestricted

Efter att lagen gällande hur upprättandet av en separat hållbarhetsrapportering infördes år 2016, av den svenska regeringen, har hållbarhet blivit en allt viktigare del ur bolagens verksamhet. Vidare har intresset för hållbarhet fått en bredare samsyn inom finanssektorn, där målet är att nå en hållbar utveckling för landet genom att styra mot investeringar som är hållbara på sikt. Studiens syfte är att analysera hur marknaden reagerar vid offentliggörandet av hållbarhetsnyheter och om det föreligger en skillnad beroende på bolagets storlek. För att undersöka marknadsreaktionen har en eventstudie genomförts med utgångspunkt ur publicering av hållbarhetsnyheter mellan åren 2010–2020. Vidare har multipla regressioner tillämpats för att kunna urskilja signifikanta skillnader och besvara studiens hypoteser och slutligen forskningsfrågan. Resultatet för studiens hypotesprövningar visar att det inte föreligger några signifikanta skillnader i marknadsreaktion gällande hur svenska bolag, listade på Large- och Mid cap, påverkas vid publicering av hållbarhetsnyheter. Slutsatsen av analysen väcker därmed frågan om hållbarhetsnyheter har en påverkan på ett bolags aktieavkastning, eller om intressenter i stället värderar andra faktorer som exempelvis värdemaximering. Begränsningar för studien grundar sig delvis i de få antal nyheter som har studerats. En annan begränsadande faktor ur ett storleksperspektiv är att studien har bortsett från Small cap. En rekommendation för vidare forskning är därmed att ha ett större urval av nyheter samt inkludera Small Cap för att få ett helhetsperspektiv av den svenska börsmarknaden. / Since the law on how the preparation of a separate sustainability report was introduced by the Swedish government in 2016, sustainability has become an increasingly important part of the companies operations. Furthermore, the interest in sustainability has gained a broader consensus in the financial sector, where the goal is to achieve sustainable development for the country by steering towards investments that are sustainable in the long term. The purpose of the study is to analyze how the market responds when publishing sustainability news and whether there is a difference depending on the size of the company. In order to investigate the market reaction, an event study was conducted based on the publication of sustainability news between the years 2010-2020. Furthermore, multiple regressions have been applied to be able do discern significant differences and answer the study ́s hypotheses and finally the research question. The results of the study ́s hypothesis tests show that there are no significant differences in market reaction regarding how Swedish companies, listed on Large- and Mid cap, are affected when publishing sustainability news. The conclusion of the analysis therefore raises the issue of whether sustainability news has an impact on a company ́s stock return, or whether stakeholders instead value other factors such as value maximization. Limitations of the study are partly based on the few news items that have been studied. Another limiting factor from a size perspective is that the study has excluded Small cap. A recommendation for further research is thus to have a wider selection of news and to include Small cap to get a holistic perspective of the Swedish stock market.

Denna studie syftar till att undersöka om sambandet mellan ESG-betyg och lönsamhet ärpositivt för företag i Sverige, samt att jämföra detta samband för företag noterade på Small Cap med företag noterade på Large Cap. För att möta samhällets förväntningar har ESG blivitallt viktigare för företag, dock kan de höga kostnaderna för rapportering av ESG vara ett hinder för implementering. Studien har antagit en deduktiv ansats där hypoteserna utformats utefter tidigare empiriska studier och teorier, för att testa dessa antogs en kvantitativ metod. Den insamlade datan gällande ESG, ROA och ROE för 103 slumpmässigt utvalda företagfrån Nasdaq Stockholm analyserades sedan genom olika tester i statistikprogrammet Excel. Resultatet kunde påvisa ett positivt signifikant samband mellan ESG-betyg och lönsamhet förföretag noterade på Nasdaq Stockholm. Sambandet mellan variablerna för Small Cap respektive Large Cap var båda positiva, dock kunde dessa inte bevisas vara statistiskt signifikanta. Vidare konstaterar studien att företagens storlek har stor betydelse för ESG-betygen, företag på Large Cap tenderar att ha högre ESG-betyg än företag på Small Cap. Ytterligare upptäckt var att sambandet mellan ESG och ROA var starkare för Large Cap medan sambandet mellan ESG och ROE var starkare för Small Cap. / This study aims to investigate if there is a positive relationship between ESG ratings and profitability for companies in Sweden, and to compare this relationship between Small Cap and Large Cap companies. While ESG has become increasingly important for companies to meet societal expectations, the high cost of reporting ESG can be a barrier to implementation. Using a deductive approach and a quantitative method, the study analyzed ESG, ROA, andROE data for 103 randomly selected companies from Nasdaq Stockholm. The results indicated a significant positive relationship between ESG ratings and profitability for companies listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. However, the relationship between variables for Small Cap and Large Cap companies was not statistically significant. The study also found that the size of the companies was a significant factor in ESG ratings, with Large Cap companies having higher ratings than Small Cap companies. Additionally, the relationship between ESG and ROA was stronger for Large Cap companies, while the relationship between ESG and ROE was stronger for Small Cap companies.

Syfte: För tio år sedan lade EU-kommissionen fram ett förslag om direktiv gällande jämställdhet i börsnoterade företags bolagsstyrelser. 2020 återuppväcktes frågan och är idag högst aktuell. Följer man aktuell utveckling förväntas Sverige inte ha helt jämställda styrelser förens 2033, åtta år efter EU-kommissionens mål som är 2025. Jämställdhet förväntas påverka många delar av en organisation. Denna uppsats syftar till att undersöka om könsfördelningen i styrelsens sammansättning påverkar företagets lönsamhet.   Metod: I studien används en kvantitativ metod där studieobjektet är 65 bolag noterade på Small- och Mid Cap listan på Stockholmsbörsen. Data har samlats in med hjälp av Retriever Business och företagens årsredovisningar. En multipel regressionsanalys har genomförts för att besvara de framställda hypoteserna där RE och Tobin’s Q har använts som mått på lönsamhet.   Resultat &amp; slutsats: Resultatet av den multipla regressionsanalysen tyder på att det inte finns något samband mellan jämställdhet i styrelsen och företagets lönsamhet. Detta gäller för bolag noterade på Small- och Mid Cap listan på Stockholmsbörsen. Resultatet indikerar att det inte spelar någon roll sett till lönsamhet hur könsfördelningen ser ut i styrelsens sammansättning.   Teoretiskt- och praktiskt bidrag: Vårt bidrag till forskningen är ett försök att täppa till den kunskapslucka som finns kring sambandet mellan företagets lönsamhet och jämställdhet i styrelsen utifrån ett svenskt perspektiv. Vårt bidrag till näringslivet är att lönsamhet inte bör vara en faktor som påverkar beslut om jämställdhet i styrelsens uppsättning.   Förslag på framtida forskning: Studien är begränsad till företag listade på Small- och Mid Cap på Stockholmsbörsen under en 5-årsperiod. Dessutom innefattar studien endast ett antal kontrollvariabler. Framtida forskning bör undersöka ett större urval under en längre tidsperiod. Dessutom kan fler kontrollvariabler tas med för att minska risken för felaktiga slutsatser kring ett samband. / Purpose: Ten years ago, the European Commission presented a proposal for a directive on gender equality in the company boards of listed companies. In 2020, the issue was revived and is today highly topical. If companies follow current developments, Sweden is not expected to have fully equal boards until 2033, eight years after the European Commission's target of 2025. Gender equality is expected to affect many parts of a firm. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the gender distribution in the composition of the board affects the company's financial performance.   Method: The study uses a quantitative method where the study object is 65 companies listed on the Small- and Mid Cap list on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Data has been collected using Retriever Business and companies’ annual reports. A multiple regression analysis has been performed to answer the hypotheses presented where ROE and Tobin's Q have been used as a measure of profitability.   Result &amp; conclusions: The results of the multiple regression analysis indicate that there is no association between gender equality on the board and financial performance measured in profitability. This applies to companies listed on the Small- and Mid Cap list on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. The result indicates that it does not matter in terms of profitability what the gender distribution looks like in the composition of the board. Contribution: Our contribution to the research is an attempt to close the knowledge gap that exists around the connection between financial performance and gender equality in the board from a Swedish perspective. Our contribution to the business community is that profitability should not be a factor that influences decisions on gender equality in the board of directors.   Suggestions for future research: The study is limited to small- and medium sized companies on the Stockholm Stock Exchange for a 5-year period. In addition, the study includes only a few numbers of control variables. Future research should examine a larger sample over a longer period. In addition, more control variables can be included to reduce the risk of erroneous conclusions about a relationship.