The aim of the thesis ''Analysis of effectiveness of the products of the Building Society 'Českomoravská stavební spořitelna' and proposal of improvements for its business model'' is the assessment of effectiveness of the operations of the Building Society by the means of financial and product analysis. By using the SWOT I want to find the opportunities and reserves in the operation of the above company. On the basis of these findings I'm suggesting the options for better business development of Building Society 'Českomoravská stavební spořitelna'.

A qualitative case study was conducted to determine whether major donors to an institution of higher education that existed to prepare ministers and missionaries were perceived by the institution's leaders as motivated by organizational effectiveness, financial efficiency, or evaluations by donor watchdog agencies. The case study was conducted with the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics. The interview process was utilized to gain information individually from the president, a development consultant, an academic dean, and a former development director. Each participant was asked a series of 19 questions during the interview process. The results indicated that the leaders perceived that organizational effectiveness was a philanthropic motivator for major donors and measured it by the accomplishments of those who were trained at the institution. The results also indicated that the ministry preparation institution's leaders perceived financial efficiency to provide philanthropic motivation to major donors, though to a lesser degree than organizational effectiveness, and measured it by stewardship of funds. The results further indicated that the ministry preparation institution's leaders perceived that donor watchdog agency evaluations, specifically those of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and Guidestar, provided philanthropic motivation for major donors. Additional research recommendations included studying how to report about organizational effectiveness in a manner meeting the needs of major donors and what motivates major donors of other education and nonprofit organizations, organizational effectiveness and/or financial efficiency.

The intention of this dissertation is to understand how federal advisory boards are operationalizing Congressional intent of transparency, financial efficiency and balanced board membership. When Congress passed the Federal Advisory Commission Act (FACA) in 1972, these three values were intended to help add legitimacy to the operation advisory boards. Advisory boards have been in use on the federal level since the first term of President George Washington, and they provide valuable expertise on a wide variety of subjects for the government. Currently, over 1,000 advisory boards are operating across the federal government with nearly 25,000 people participating. Collectively, annual operations of these boards approaches a half billion dollars. In the years leading up to the passage of FACA, Congressional hearings revealed deficiencies across federal departments with transparency of advisory board operations, spending practices, and appointment processes which threatened the legitimacy of their use. The FACA law was intended to bring legitimacy back to boards' operation by requiring more transparency, financial efficiency and balance in viewpoints on board appointments. With the law more than 40 years old, this dissertation explores how advisory boards today are operating is relation to the values Congress laid out in legislation. A quantitative exploration was conducted to assess the fidelity to the Congressional values by using publicly available data points. A sample of the 1,000 operating advisory boards was used to conduct the research. Using the results of the quantitative exploration, six case studies were selected for additional examination. Three cases were selected by a systematic method based on the quantitative data, and three additional cases were selected by the unique results from the data. A dozen policy changes were suggested as a result of the quantitative and qualitative examinations to better align present day operation of advisory boards with the Congressional intent. This study may be useful to policymakers who have oversight on advisory board operations. / Doctor of Philosophy / American citizens provide input to the federal government in several ways. Voting for President and Members of Congress is the most visible way. However, serving on one of the approximately one thousand existing federal advisory boards is another way. These are boards and commissions made up of citizens who have expertise in various subjects for which the government needs ideas to help fix problems affecting our country. The focus of these boards ranges greatly. For example, some boards focus on highly specialized medical issues, and others focus on how citizens use the land around national forests. In 1972, Congress passed a law that set some basic guidelines on how these boards should operate. Congress said that boards need to be transparent in how they work so the public can monitor them easily. Congress also noted that the boards need to use the tax money given to them to operate efficiently and try to save money whenever they can. Finally, Congress wanted boards to have people with different points of views represented, so recommendations are not one-sided. Now that the law is over 40 years old, this dissertation examines how closely advisory boards today are following those guidelines Congress wrote in 1972. This dissertation suggests some ways to measure how close they are following the directions, and it looks in-depth to several of them to see how they operate. Finally, the dissertation gives some new suggestions on how all boards can operate to better reflect the ideas Congress wanted.

Para atuar nos mercados da Base da Pirâmide - BOP (Bottom of Pyramid) estratégias customizadas são requeridas dadas as especificidades do consumidor alvo, em que não apenas a restrição à renda se configura, mas também, o acesso ao produto e as necessidades de especificações relacionadas ao seu uso e local. Assim, as organizações precisam atuar com produtos de baixos preços e crédito, devido à restrição de renda do consumidor, obrigatoriamente trabalhando com eficiência, baixos custos de produção, maiores volumes de produção e investimentos em canais de distribuição. As principais publicações não chegaram a um acordo sobre se a atuação na BOP é produtiva ou ilusória, em que se pesem os vários estudos de caso e os vários estudos específicos de estratégias para a BOP. Recentes estudos sobre eficiência indicaram não haver diferença entre elas no mercado, no entanto, importantes autores a veem, mesmo que com grandes vieses. Até mesmo a caracterização da BOP no Brasil foi colocada em discussão. Esta pesquisa utilizou abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa na análise dos dados feitas através de survey eletrônica e questionário, que foram trabalhados por meio de metodologia multicritério e utilizando como base conceitual a Teoria dos Grupos Estratégicos. Assim, o estudo apresenta quais diferenças existem entre as eficiências financeiras das indústrias que atuam ou não na BOP e apresenta um modelo de dimensões estratégicas que estão mais associadas à alta eficiência financeira dos Grupos Estratégicos (GEs) das indústrias de móveis, de confecções, de alimentos, de bebidas, de higiene que ofertam produtos para a BOP estendida, renomeada dessa maneira por incluir a classe C no estudo, diferentemente ao conceito inicial da BOP. Adjacentes a esse objetivo principal, esta tese avaliou a correlação de eficiências com as principais variáveis econômicas e identificou quais dimensões estratégicas estão associadas aos mercados BOP-e, Não-BOP e Misto, dos GEs. A expectativa é de que a pesquisa possa ser mais um dos poucos estudos significativos que inter-relacionam estratégia e eficiência financeira no país, portanto, busca avançar no campo teórico das estratégias relacionadas à BOP, bem como, apresentar dados empíricos sobre Grupos Estratégicos e BOP, contribuindo gerencialmente com a exposição das dimensões estratégicas e estrutura financeira dos GEs que apresentam melhor eficiência financeira dentro da BOP-e, de forma a serem ponderadas pelos executivos em suas tomadas de decisões. / To operate in the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) markets, customized strategies are required given the specificities of the target consumer, where not only the income restriction is configured, but also the access to the product and related specifications needs to its use and location. Thus, organizations need to work with products of low prices and credit due to consumer income restriction necessarily working efficiently, lower production costs, higher production volumes and investments in distribution channels. The main publications did not reach an agreement on whether the performance in the BOP is productive or illusory, considering the various case studies and the several specific studies of strategies for BOP. Recent studies on efficiency indicated that there is no difference between them in the market, however, important authors see it, even if with great bias. Even the characterization of BOP in Brazil was placed under discussion. This research used a quantitative and qualitative approach in the analysis of the data made through electronic survey and questionnaire, which were worked through a multicriteria methodology and using as conceptual basis the Theory of Strategic Groups. Thus, the study shows that differences exist between the financial efficiencies of industries that operate or not in the BOP and presents a model of strategic dimensions that are more associated with high financial efficiency of Strategic Groups (SGs) of the furniture industry, of the clothing industry, of the food industry, of the beverage industry and of the hygiene that offer products for the extended BOP, renamed in this way by including class C in the study, unlike the initial concept of BOP. Adjacent to this main objective, this thesis evaluated the correlation of efficiencies with the main economic variables and identified which strategic dimensions are associated with the BOP-e, Non-BOP and Mixed markets of the SGs. The expectation is that the research may be one of the few significant studies that interrelate strategy and financial efficiency in the country, therefore, it seeks to advance in the theoretical field of strategies related to the BOP, as well as to present empirical data on Strategic Groups and BOP , contributing managerially with the exposure of the strategic dimensions and financial structure of the GEs that present better financial efficiency within the BOP-e, in order to be considered by the executives in their decision-making.

Para atuar nos mercados da Base da Pirâmide - BOP (Bottom of Pyramid) estratégias customizadas são requeridas dadas as especificidades do consumidor alvo, em que não apenas a restrição à renda se configura, mas também, o acesso ao produto e as necessidades de especificações relacionadas ao seu uso e local. Assim, as organizações precisam atuar com produtos de baixos preços e crédito, devido à restrição de renda do consumidor, obrigatoriamente trabalhando com eficiência, baixos custos de produção, maiores volumes de produção e investimentos em canais de distribuição. As principais publicações não chegaram a um acordo sobre se a atuação na BOP é produtiva ou ilusória, em que se pesem os vários estudos de caso e os vários estudos específicos de estratégias para a BOP. Recentes estudos sobre eficiência indicaram não haver diferença entre elas no mercado, no entanto, importantes autores a veem, mesmo que com grandes vieses. Até mesmo a caracterização da BOP no Brasil foi colocada em discussão. Esta pesquisa utilizou abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa na análise dos dados feitas através de survey eletrônica e questionário, que foram trabalhados por meio de metodologia multicritério e utilizando como base conceitual a Teoria dos Grupos Estratégicos. Assim, o estudo apresenta quais diferenças existem entre as eficiências financeiras das indústrias que atuam ou não na BOP e apresenta um modelo de dimensões estratégicas que estão mais associadas à alta eficiência financeira dos Grupos Estratégicos (GEs) das indústrias de móveis, de confecções, de alimentos, de bebidas, de higiene que ofertam produtos para a BOP estendida, renomeada dessa maneira por incluir a classe C no estudo, diferentemente ao conceito inicial da BOP. Adjacentes a esse objetivo principal, esta tese avaliou a correlação de eficiências com as principais variáveis econômicas e identificou quais dimensões estratégicas estão associadas aos mercados BOP-e, Não-BOP e Misto, dos GEs. A expectativa é de que a pesquisa possa ser mais um dos poucos estudos significativos que inter-relacionam estratégia e eficiência financeira no país, portanto, busca avançar no campo teórico das estratégias relacionadas à BOP, bem como, apresentar dados empíricos sobre Grupos Estratégicos e BOP, contribuindo gerencialmente com a exposição das dimensões estratégicas e estrutura financeira dos GEs que apresentam melhor eficiência financeira dentro da BOP-e, de forma a serem ponderadas pelos executivos em suas tomadas de decisões. / To operate in the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) markets, customized strategies are required given the specificities of the target consumer, where not only the income restriction is configured, but also the access to the product and related specifications needs to its use and location. Thus, organizations need to work with products of low prices and credit due to consumer income restriction necessarily working efficiently, lower production costs, higher production volumes and investments in distribution channels. The main publications did not reach an agreement on whether the performance in the BOP is productive or illusory, considering the various case studies and the several specific studies of strategies for BOP. Recent studies on efficiency indicated that there is no difference between them in the market, however, important authors see it, even if with great bias. Even the characterization of BOP in Brazil was placed under discussion. This research used a quantitative and qualitative approach in the analysis of the data made through electronic survey and questionnaire, which were worked through a multicriteria methodology and using as conceptual basis the Theory of Strategic Groups. Thus, the study shows that differences exist between the financial efficiencies of industries that operate or not in the BOP and presents a model of strategic dimensions that are more associated with high financial efficiency of Strategic Groups (SGs) of the furniture industry, of the clothing industry, of the food industry, of the beverage industry and of the hygiene that offer products for the extended BOP, renamed in this way by including class C in the study, unlike the initial concept of BOP. Adjacent to this main objective, this thesis evaluated the correlation of efficiencies with the main economic variables and identified which strategic dimensions are associated with the BOP-e, Non-BOP and Mixed markets of the SGs. The expectation is that the research may be one of the few significant studies that interrelate strategy and financial efficiency in the country, therefore, it seeks to advance in the theoretical field of strategies related to the BOP, as well as to present empirical data on Strategic Groups and BOP , contributing managerially with the exposure of the strategic dimensions and financial structure of the GEs that present better financial efficiency within the BOP-e, in order to be considered by the executives in their decision-making.

The study examined the relationship between financial intermediation and poverty in selected developing countries. In particular the study sought to examine the deterministic relationship, cointegration and the causality between financial intermediation and poverty. Panel data spanning the period 2004-2016 for 35 developing countries was employed. Substantial empirical research proposed that financial development expands economic prospects and reduces poverty and inequality. Hitherto, there is a dearth of empirical studies on the potential effects of formal financial dimensions of financial access, financial efficiency and financial stability in reducing poverty. There is also a lack of empirical work on the joint effect of the other financial dimensions in a financial intermediation setting in poverty reduction. The present study contributed to literature by including these financial dimensions in examining cointegration and causality between financial dimensions and poverty. The study employed a number of econometric methodologies to address the objectives of the research such as the GMM, panel ARDL and panel ECM. The GMM was employed to examine the determinants of poverty that were selected for this study. To examine the long run, short run and the causal relationship, the panel ARDL and the error correction model were used. In addition the study deployed PCA to develop the composite index for institutional quality. Panel heterogenous estimation methods such as the pooled mean group to infer the cointegration and causal effect between the financial dimensions and poverty were employed. The Hausman test was used to determine the most appropriate estimator and the PMG estimator was selected as the most appropriate since the p-value of the Hausman test was insignificant. The results from panel ARDL, cointegration test showed the existence of a long run relationship between financial intermediation, financial access, financial efficiency, financial access and poverty. Furthermore, the study noted that the relationship between financial intermediation and poverty differ depending on how poverty is measured. Therefore, the distortions in understanding and definition of poverty may consequently lead to distorted policies that yield little or no results for the effectiveness of the financial sector in poverty reduction.The study found strong causality in the long run for all the poverty proxies and the selected financial variables. Additionally the results from the panel causality tests indicate the bidirectional causality of the variables in the long run. We fail to observe the causality among most iii of the variables in the short run. There is strong joint causality among the variables in the panel as the results of the error correction term is negative and significant indicating that there is dynamic stability between the financial variables and poverty. The study further included the domestic public debt and remittances as determinants of poverty in a financial intermediation setting. Since domestic public debt can crowd out private credit, this study included domestic public debt for the panel of the developing countries and the study found that domestic public debt has a poverty reducing effect. Additionally the study found that remittances reduce the share of population living in poverty whilst increasing inequality as indicated in the findings of the study. / Finance, Risk Management and Banking

The thesis describes the problem of TNC administrative ordering, tax performance from the point of financial efficiency, administrative burdens and taxation. The research will be focused on the background development of TNC and its internal organizational structure. The research will involve analysis of TNC, strategies and goals aiming to lower tax burdens, to avoid overregulation and to focus on the most efficient administrative ordering. Several case studies of major world's transnational corporations will be considered in order to analyze the practical aspects of TNCs' activities related to tax optimization methods. The practical analysis will be based on the theoretical findings drawn from bibliographic sources available in public access.

O estudo da utilização da Tecnologia da Informação (TI) e suas conseqüências nos resultados das empresas é ainda um debate inacabado. Desde o paradoxo da produtividade (BRYNJOLFSSON, 1993), conseguiu-se mostrar a influência positiva da TI principalmente para as empresas grandes e, apenas mais recentemente, têm surgido pesquisas realizadas em pequenas e médias empresas. A urgência por se conhecer melhor esse tema, a carência de pesquisas sobre o setor brasileiro de bens de capital e o recente crescimento dele na economia do país são justificativas para a realização deste trabalho. Para o desenvolvimento desta investigação, utilizaram-se as técnicas de correlação estatística e de Análise Envoltória de Dados (Data Envelopment Analysis - DEA), além de análises fatoriais, através da seqüência: definições de conceitos; uso de metodologia apropriada para análise dos Fatores Críticos de Sucesso e análise dos Indicadores de Desempenho das empresas do setor de bens de capital; determinação dos inputs e outputs do modelo DEA; elaboração dos Fatores de Informatização; elaboração de construtos para aplicação da técnica DEA em dois estágios; elaboração de questionário para obtenção dos dados junto às empresas do setor; seu envio eletrônico; levantamento dos dados recebidos; análise descritiva; análise fatorial dos fatores de informatização; análise correlacional dos principais indicadores e variáveis; aplicação da técnica DEA nos construtos global, primeiro estágio e segundo estágio; análise dos resultados de eficiência; e análise correlacional entre os índices de eficiência e os fatores de informatização. O questionário elaborado foi testado previamente com três empresas, contando-se também com o auxílio de um consultor da Associação Brasileira da Indústria de Máquinas e Equipamentos (ABIMAQ) para refiná-lo e simplificá-lo. A lista de 3.833 empresas, entre associadas e não-associadas, foi fornecida pela própria ABIMAQ, e o questionário e suas respostas foram transmitidos via correio eletrônico da Universidade de São Paulo. Desse universo, que é formado principalmente por micro e pequenas empresas que trabalham sob encomenda, 80 responderam, e dessas, 28 puderam ser aproveitadas para comporem o grupo testado pelo método DEA. Dentre os resultados obtidos, destacam-se a associação positiva entre porte das empresas e melhores práticas, a relação entre a participação dos executivos e os fatores de informatização, a correlação entre os fatores de informatização e a eficiência operacional, a maior capacidade das empresas menores em converter o uso da TI em eficiência operacional e a maior capacidade das empresas maiores em converter os fatores críticos de sucesso em rentabilidade. Dentre os subsetores estudados, o de máquinas-ferramenta destacou-se nas atividades apoiadas pela TI e na extensão de seu uso. / The debate surrounding the use of IT and its consequences for companies is still incomplete. Since the Productivity Paradox (BRYNJOLFSSON, 1993), the positive influence of IT on large companies has been shown, and only recently has research regarding small and medium companies been developed. The need for further understanding the appropriate use of IT, the lack of research about Brazilian capital goods industry, and the sectors recent growth in the countrys economy are the main reasons to develop this work. To set forth this investigation, quantitative techniques were used, like statistical correlation and Data Envelopment Analysis, as well as factor analysis, following the sequence: concept definitions; use of appropriate methodology to analyze capital goods companies Success Critical Factors and Performance Indicators; determine DEA model inputs and outputs; elaborate computer information factors; elaborate constructs to apply two stages DEA technique; prepare a questionnaire and send it to the companies electronically; analyze received data; develop a descriptive analysis; develop factor analysis for the computer information factors; main indicators and variables correlation analysis; apply DEA technique for global, first stage and second stage constructs; efficiency results analysis; and correlation analysis between efficiency indexes and computer information factors. The questionnaire was previously tested with three different companies, and was revised and simplified by the Machines and Equipment Brazilian Industry Association (ABIMAQ). The mailing provided by the association contained 3,833 companies, including non-associate ABIMAQ ones. The questionnaire and its answers were transmitted through Universidade de São Paulo electronic mail. From the population, mainly composed by made to order micro and small companies, 80 responded, and 28 attended the needs to be tested on DEA model. Among the most important obtained results are: the positive association between companies size and best practices, the relation between executive participation and computer information factors, the correlation between computer information factors and operating efficiency, smaller companies ability to better convert use of IT into operating efficiency, and larger companies superior ability to convert success critical factors into financial efficiency.

O estudo da utilização da Tecnologia da Informação (TI) e suas conseqüências nos resultados das empresas é ainda um debate inacabado. Desde o paradoxo da produtividade (BRYNJOLFSSON, 1993), conseguiu-se mostrar a influência positiva da TI principalmente para as empresas grandes e, apenas mais recentemente, têm surgido pesquisas realizadas em pequenas e médias empresas. A urgência por se conhecer melhor esse tema, a carência de pesquisas sobre o setor brasileiro de bens de capital e o recente crescimento dele na economia do país são justificativas para a realização deste trabalho. Para o desenvolvimento desta investigação, utilizaram-se as técnicas de correlação estatística e de Análise Envoltória de Dados (Data Envelopment Analysis - DEA), além de análises fatoriais, através da seqüência: definições de conceitos; uso de metodologia apropriada para análise dos Fatores Críticos de Sucesso e análise dos Indicadores de Desempenho das empresas do setor de bens de capital; determinação dos inputs e outputs do modelo DEA; elaboração dos Fatores de Informatização; elaboração de construtos para aplicação da técnica DEA em dois estágios; elaboração de questionário para obtenção dos dados junto às empresas do setor; seu envio eletrônico; levantamento dos dados recebidos; análise descritiva; análise fatorial dos fatores de informatização; análise correlacional dos principais indicadores e variáveis; aplicação da técnica DEA nos construtos global, primeiro estágio e segundo estágio; análise dos resultados de eficiência; e análise correlacional entre os índices de eficiência e os fatores de informatização. O questionário elaborado foi testado previamente com três empresas, contando-se também com o auxílio de um consultor da Associação Brasileira da Indústria de Máquinas e Equipamentos (ABIMAQ) para refiná-lo e simplificá-lo. A lista de 3.833 empresas, entre associadas e não-associadas, foi fornecida pela própria ABIMAQ, e o questionário e suas respostas foram transmitidos via correio eletrônico da Universidade de São Paulo. Desse universo, que é formado principalmente por micro e pequenas empresas que trabalham sob encomenda, 80 responderam, e dessas, 28 puderam ser aproveitadas para comporem o grupo testado pelo método DEA. Dentre os resultados obtidos, destacam-se a associação positiva entre porte das empresas e melhores práticas, a relação entre a participação dos executivos e os fatores de informatização, a correlação entre os fatores de informatização e a eficiência operacional, a maior capacidade das empresas menores em converter o uso da TI em eficiência operacional e a maior capacidade das empresas maiores em converter os fatores críticos de sucesso em rentabilidade. Dentre os subsetores estudados, o de máquinas-ferramenta destacou-se nas atividades apoiadas pela TI e na extensão de seu uso. / The debate surrounding the use of IT and its consequences for companies is still incomplete. Since the Productivity Paradox (BRYNJOLFSSON, 1993), the positive influence of IT on large companies has been shown, and only recently has research regarding small and medium companies been developed. The need for further understanding the appropriate use of IT, the lack of research about Brazilian capital goods industry, and the sectors recent growth in the countrys economy are the main reasons to develop this work. To set forth this investigation, quantitative techniques were used, like statistical correlation and Data Envelopment Analysis, as well as factor analysis, following the sequence: concept definitions; use of appropriate methodology to analyze capital goods companies Success Critical Factors and Performance Indicators; determine DEA model inputs and outputs; elaborate computer information factors; elaborate constructs to apply two stages DEA technique; prepare a questionnaire and send it to the companies electronically; analyze received data; develop a descriptive analysis; develop factor analysis for the computer information factors; main indicators and variables correlation analysis; apply DEA technique for global, first stage and second stage constructs; efficiency results analysis; and correlation analysis between efficiency indexes and computer information factors. The questionnaire was previously tested with three different companies, and was revised and simplified by the Machines and Equipment Brazilian Industry Association (ABIMAQ). The mailing provided by the association contained 3,833 companies, including non-associate ABIMAQ ones. The questionnaire and its answers were transmitted through Universidade de São Paulo electronic mail. From the population, mainly composed by made to order micro and small companies, 80 responded, and 28 attended the needs to be tested on DEA model. Among the most important obtained results are: the positive association between companies size and best practices, the relation between executive participation and computer information factors, the correlation between computer information factors and operating efficiency, smaller companies ability to better convert use of IT into operating efficiency, and larger companies superior ability to convert success critical factors into financial efficiency.

My thesis is divided into three parts. In the technology part are summarized knowledge of homeopathy and its principles with regard to research in this area, in the second part is mapped the availability of entities of homeopathic treatment. The last part focuses on the cost effectiveness of treatment of acute illnesses typical for winter season.