Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

The paper analyzes public procurement process at the level of municipalities in the Slovak Republic. The introductory part of the paper is devoted to an analysis of theoretical and legislative aspects of the public procurement with definition of basic concepts and various procedural steps, which lead to the final implementation of the procurement. The paper also deals with the concept of 3E and degree of its implementation in legislation and in real-life process of procurement at the level of municipalities, with reference to some practical problems of that concept. The theoretical part of the paper is supported by an analysis of real-life public procurement processes undertaken at the municipal level and followed by evaluation using evaluation methods selected. At the end of the paper, proposals and recommendations that should lead to increase of effectiveness and economy in spending of public funds are included.

<p>Market globalization and steep competition are increasing the need for more efficient and effective strategies in meeting evolving market demands. Adopting a more integrated approach to supply chain relationship management has been increasingly viewed as a way of meeting changing customer needs. This thesis work explores lean and agility frameworks as tools for achieving supply chain integration. Different aspects of the concepts of lean and agility and their applications in the supply chain are presented based on theoretical literature. Thus, this thesis seeks to point out the impact that the concepts of lean and agility can have on the supply chain as a whole. Four companies have been investigated in connection to the level of awareness, perception, and practical application of these tools in their supply chain. To this end, information was collected in a survey questionnaire from these four companies and supported by an interview. The results show that lean and agility are important tools to achieve supply chain integration, but respondents are yet to fully achieve the transition to lean/agile enterprise. It could be said that lean/agile supply chain is still more in theory than in practice. The level of awareness to market changes is high but there seem to be no specific way in achieving integration in the supply as there is wide variation in the way one company achieves it with respect to another. Generally, respondents are implementing lean/agile principles in cooperation and collaboration with suppliers and customers, demand pull system, and using combination of strategies. However, it is clear that adequate market information is required when trying to fit lean/agile principles into supply chain strategy. Furthermore, all respondent recognise the need for change to satisfy customer need, but the respond to change vary from one company to another. Also, there is a gradual shift from traditional focus solely on cost and profit to customer relation relationship management and customer satisfaction. Consequently, companies are organizing themselves around the customer who pulls goods and value from the producer of the goods.</p>

Market globalization and steep competition are increasing the need for more efficient and effective strategies in meeting evolving market demands. Adopting a more integrated approach to supply chain relationship management has been increasingly viewed as a way of meeting changing customer needs. This thesis work explores lean and agility frameworks as tools for achieving supply chain integration. Different aspects of the concepts of lean and agility and their applications in the supply chain are presented based on theoretical literature. Thus, this thesis seeks to point out the impact that the concepts of lean and agility can have on the supply chain as a whole. Four companies have been investigated in connection to the level of awareness, perception, and practical application of these tools in their supply chain. To this end, information was collected in a survey questionnaire from these four companies and supported by an interview. The results show that lean and agility are important tools to achieve supply chain integration, but respondents are yet to fully achieve the transition to lean/agile enterprise. It could be said that lean/agile supply chain is still more in theory than in practice. The level of awareness to market changes is high but there seem to be no specific way in achieving integration in the supply as there is wide variation in the way one company achieves it with respect to another. Generally, respondents are implementing lean/agile principles in cooperation and collaboration with suppliers and customers, demand pull system, and using combination of strategies. However, it is clear that adequate market information is required when trying to fit lean/agile principles into supply chain strategy. Furthermore, all respondent recognise the need for change to satisfy customer need, but the respond to change vary from one company to another. Also, there is a gradual shift from traditional focus solely on cost and profit to customer relation relationship management and customer satisfaction. Consequently, companies are organizing themselves around the customer who pulls goods and value from the producer of the goods.

This thesis examines the informational efficiency of the European carbon market based on the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). The issue is approached from three different perspectives. I explore whether the volatility embedded in carbon options is a rational forecast of subsequently realized volatility. Then, I investigate if, and to what extent, new information about the structural and institutional set-up of the market impacts the carbon price dynamics. Lastly, I examine whether the European carbon market is relevant for the firm valuations of covered companies. First, perhaps because the market is new and derivatives’ trading on emission allowances has only started recently, carbon options have not yet been extensively studied. By using data on options traded on the European Climate Exchange, this thesis examines an aspect of market efficiency which has been previously overlooked. Market efficiency suggests that, conditional upon the accuracy of the option pricing model, implied volatility should be an unbiased and efficient forecast of future realized volatility (Campbell et al., 1997). Black (1976) implied volatility and implied volatility estimates directly surveyed from market participants are used in this thesis to study the information content of carbon options. Implied volatility is found to be highly informative and directionally accurate in forecasting future volatility. There is no evidence, however, that volatility embedded in carbon options is an unbiased and efficient forecast of future realized volatility. Instead, historical volatility-based forecasts are shown to contain incremental information to implied volatility, particularly for short-term forecasts. In addition, this thesis finds no evidence that directly surveyed implied volatility estimates perform better as a forecast of future volatility relative to Black’s (1976) estimates. Second, the market sensitivity to announcements about the organizational and institutional set-up of the EU ETS is re-examined. Despite their importance for the carbon price formation, demand-side announcements and announcements about the post-2012 framework have not yet been researched. By examining a very comprehensive and updated dataset of announcements, this thesis adds to the earlier works of Miclaus et al. (2008), Mansanet-Bataller and Pardo (2009) and Lepone et al. (2011). Market participants are found to rationally incorporate new information about the institutional and regulatory framework of the emissions trading scheme into the carbon price dynamics. However, they seem to be unable to accurately assess the implications of inter-temporal banking and borrowing on pricing futures contracts with different maturities. The impact of macroeconomic conditions on the market responsiveness is investigated by splitting the dataset into subsamples according to two alternative methods: 1) a simple split into pre-crisis and full-crisis time periods, and 2) according to a Bai-Perron structural break test. Evidence is found that in the context of economic slowdown and known allowances oversupply, the relationship between the carbon price and its fundamentals (institutional announcements, energy prices and extreme weather) breaks down. These findings are consistent with the arguments in Hintermann (2010), Keppler and Mansanet-Bataller (2010) and Koop and Tole (2011) that carbon price drivers change in response to the differing context of the individual trading periods. Third, the role of carbon performance in firm valuation is understudied. Since companies were not obliged to disclose their carbon emissions prior to the launch of the EU ETS, there exists little empirical evidence of the effect of carbon performance on market value. Earlier studies of the European carbon market have only focused on the impact of ETS compliance on the profitability and competitiveness of covered companies (e.g. Anger and Oberndorfer, 2008). There is also little research on how the newly available emissions data has altered the carbon performance of companies. This thesis addresses these gaps in the literature by examining the stock price reactions of British and German firms on the day of verified emissions release under the EU ETS over the period 2006 – 2011. An event study is conducted using a Seemingly Unrelated Regressions model to deal with the event clustering present in the dataset. Limited evidence is found that investors use information about the carbon performance of companies in their valuations. The information contained in the carbon emissions reports is shown to be somewhat more important for companies with high carbon-intensive operations. This thesis finds no conclusive evidence that the cap-and-trade programme has been able to provide regulated companies with enough incentives to de-carbonize their operations. The market does not punish companies which continue to emit carbon at increasing rates or reward companies which improve their carbon performance. In brief, the results of the thesis suggest that the market is not fully efficient yet. Inefficiently priced carbon options may allow for arbitrage trades in the market. The inability of investors to incorporate rules on inter-temporal banking and borrowing of allowances across the different trading periods leads to significant price reactions when there should be none. A recessionary economic environment and a known oversupply of emission allowances have led to a disconnect between the carbon price and its fundamental drivers. And, lastly, the signal embedded in the carbon price is not strong enough to invoke investor action and turn carbon performance into a standard component of investment analysis.

The South African Government’s service delivery initiatives do not guarantee quality of life for all citizens of South Africa. An active challenge faced by researchers and practitioners, who do not have adequate solutions available, is based on the fact that government departments are not able to say what they have achieved; only what they have done. The aim of this study was to develop a conceptual approach or framework for public financial performance management, which will pave the way for operational and line managers in public financial management towards world-class performance with specific reference to effectiveness and service delivery outcomes. The contextualisation of public administration highlights the scientific foundations of public administration and the continuous development of administrative theories and growing administrative thought within the discipline of Public Administration. The development of public administration proves to be dynamic with the emphasis on future trends and emerging concepts of public management and good governance and the need for more efficient and effective service delivery. The state's role has changed from hands-on management and direct delivery of goods and services to the facilitation of an enabling environment, which provides a framework for private sector participation. Successful development programmes hinge on the effective economic policies, good governance and financial performance management of the facilitator. Due to the fragmentation of policy responsibility in society, the traditional mechanisms of governmental control are no longer workable, or even appropriate. Control is giving way to interaction and involvement with critical implications for the operational manager’s ability to manage, but still to be accountable. The future role of government will be based on governance and stewardship, which can create an enabling environment for all its citizens to enjoy a good life. Derived from an analysis of the public administration environment, the magnitude of the challenges and the tasks facing African countries, African governments and other stakeholders, especially the international community, must establish capacity to deal with a dynamic and changing environment. A systematic and holistic approach will be needed for the implementation of policy in order to become more effective and responsive to the needs of society. The role of governance as the ideal platform allows for an interactive relationship between the public financial management system and the budget process to be facilitated by various role players in different relationships. Interaction is based on the concept of getting the basics right and is also aligned with the public financial management system as a series of realistic platforms to accommodate the multiple role players. The result is a financial system that provides the opportunity for financial performance management and effective and optimal budget outcomes. A high-performing public-sector organisation is results-driven with a sound public financial management system, which allows the government to make the best use of all available resources. This type of organisation will meet the quest to efficiently and effectively utilise public resources to meet the needs of the community in an equitable manner. Public financial performance management must be viewed as the next logical evolution of the field of public management. Public financial performance management must be viewed as an essential component of successful management. This is cultural, operational and human resource management change. The transition will require recognition that rationality is the underlying force of performance management. The development of public financial performance management capacity is a means and not an end in itself; it is an integral part of the overall development agenda. Consequently, a capacity development strategy must be based on a broader vision of improved financial performance management and increasing organisational effectiveness leading to good governance. While country ownership is critical, the capacity development efforts have to be tailored to match the existing human resources, institutions, legal system, as well as the administrative and political culture. The drive for capacity development should transcend the mode by which it is to be delivered. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / School of Public Management and Administration (SPMA) / unrestricted

The diploma thesis deals with issues of administration and control of a company, so-called corporate governance. It deals with relationships and links between the owners and management that need to be regulated because the ownership is separated from the management and control. The aim of this work is a thorough examination of the current state of corporate governance at a particular company. The primary object of the examination is the ownership and organizational structure, individual elements, their relationships and competencies and subsequent evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of the applied system.

The purpose of this diploma thesis is to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of structural funds of the European Union in water protection in the Czech Republic. The main goal of the research is whether public resources are used cost-effectively and whether they are not being wasted. The theoretical basis of the subsidy's issue as a tool of public policy, are discussed in the first part of the thesis. As a consequence the effectiveness and efficiency of subsidies as a main tool of European Regional Policy are also discussed. General conclusions are demonstrated on specific statistical water protection data of the Czech Republic in the second part of this thesis. Several patterns which show problems decreasing efficiency and effectiveness of expended resources were used in the research. Analysis showed that investments into water protection are necessary and needed from social point of view, but the way the subsidies are provided is controversial. Finally, the thesis attempts to discuss alternative tools which could gain the same results with lower costs.

Tidigare forskning framställer ofta distansarbete som en produktivare metod än att arbeta på arbetsplatsen. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka åsikter om distansarbete hemifrån samt hur de individer som arbetar som tjänstemän upplever att deras produktivitet och effektivitet påverkas i samband med detta. Undersökningen syftar också till att utveckla kunskaper om effekterna av distansarbete, vilka faktorer som är viktiga samt hur produktivitet och effektivitet påverkas av dessa. Studien ska slutligen generera vägledning för hur arbetsmetoden kan användas på bästa sätt. Distansarbete är ett arbetssätt som under senare tid anpassats och utvecklats i takt med datorteknologin och blivit ett mer aktuellt arbetssätt för organisationer och tjänstemän. Empiriska data samlades in genom tolv semistrukturerade intervjuer med respondenter ifrån fyra olika organisationer. Intervjuerna utfördes enligt en intervjuguide som formats utifrån en framtagen teoretisk referensram. Studien genererar kunskaper om faktorer och effekter kring distansarbete hemifrån utifrån åsikter och upplevelser. Vad som återkommer frekvent både i tidigare forskning och i empiriska data kring distansarbetets faktorer och effekter är att social isolering är ett stort problem, men att störningsmoment kan minimeras och generera bättre resultat genom att en högre koncentrationsnivå kan uppnås. Arbetsuppgiftens karaktär bestämmer om distansarbete är fördelaktigt eller inte, varför en kombination lyfts som den bästa metoden. Det är dock viktigt att individen är lämpad för att utföra distansarbete hemifrån och att inte arbetstiden som spenderas på distans är för omfattande om önskad produktivitet och effektivitet ska uppnås. / Previous research presents teleworking as a more productive method than working in the workplace. The purpose of this study is to investigate opinions about teleworking at home as well as how the individuals working as office workers feel about how their productivity and effectiveness are affected. The study also aims to develop knowledge about the effects of telework, which the important factors are, and how productivity and effectiveness are affected by these. This should generate guidance on how to best use the working method. Telework is a working method that has been adapted and developed in line with the computer technology and has become a more current way of working for organizations and office workers. Empirical data was collected through twelve semi-structured interviews with respondents from four different organizations. The interviews were conducted according to an interview guide formed based on a developed theoretical reference frame. The study generates knowledge about the factors and effects of teleworking from home through opinions and experiences. What is recurring frequently in both previous research and the empirical data regarding the factors and effects of teleworking is that social isolation is a major problem, but disruptive moments can be minimized and generate better results by achieving higher concentration. The task decides if teleworking is advantageous or not, that is why a combination of both teleworking and working in the workplace highlights as the best combination. However, the individual must be suitable for doing the telework from home and the working time spent at distance can not be too extensive if the desired productivity and effectiveness should be achieved.

<p>Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je da se razvije model za ocjenu<br />efikasnosti i efektivnosti željezničkih operatera koji bi<br />bio u funkciji povećanja konkurentskih sposobnosti istih. Da<br />bi se to ostvarilo na osnovu stanja u literaturi i praksi,<br />definisani su i vrednovani kriterijumi koji utiču na<br />efikasnost i efektivnost i izvršen njihov izbor primjenom<br />fazi AXP. Razvijeni su modeli za ocjenu efikasnosti<br />željezničkog operatera. U razvoju modela korišćeni su<br />principi DEA i fazi logike da se modeluje neodređenost u<br />podacima i koristi ekspertsko znanje za ocjenu. Testiranjem<br />modela na željezničkom operateru u BiH zaključeno je da je<br />model primjenljiv kao alat za ocjenu efikasnosti.</p> / <p>The objective of this study was to develop a model for evaluating the<br />effectiveness and efficiency of railway undertakings, which would be<br />aimed at increasing the competitive capabilities of the railway<br />undertakings. In order to achieve this on the basis of the state in<br />literature and practice, the criteria that affect the efficiency and<br />effectiveness are defined and evaluated and their selection is made<br />with the application of Fuzzy AHP. Models for the assessment of the<br />efficiency of railway undertakings have been developed. In developing<br />the model, the principles of DEA and Fuzzy logic have been used to<br />model the uncertainty in the data and to use the expertise for<br />assessment. By testing the model on the railway undertaking in Bosnia<br />and Herzegovina it was concluded that the model is useful as a tool for<br />the assessment of efficiency.</p>