Yes / Following the recent financial crisis, Walker (2009) recommended that financial institutions should form a separate board level risk committee (RC) to manage various risks and prevent excessive risk taking. This research focuses on investigating how firms with separate risk committees differ from those that do not have one. The main research question we address is whether RCs have a fundamental influence on financial performance. We measure financial performance by ROA and ROE and we control for firm size, liquidity and gearing. Our sample consists of all listed financial institutions in FTSE-100 index from 2010 through 2014. Results indicate a negative relationship between risk committee characteristics (i.e., existence, size, independence, and meeting frequency) and financial performance. The results also indicate that firms without risk committee (RC) performed considerably well than firms with RC. The results are contradictory to Walker’s (2009) where RCs are recommended for their ability to mitigate and manage risks more expertly. However, we argue that establish strong RC constrain management ability to make excessive risk taking behaviour which may affect financial performance negatively. We contribute to the current research on the impact of risk committee governance attributes on financial performance after banking and governance reforms.

by Cheong Suk-Ying. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references. / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LISTS OF TABLES --- p.v / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.vi / CHAPTERS / Chapter 1. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- General Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Scope of Study --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives of Study --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4 --- Framework of Report --- p.3 / Chapter 2. --- HONG KONG AS AN INTERNATIONAL BANKING CENTRE --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- Overview --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2 --- Degree of Internationalization of Hong Kong's Banking Industry --- p.6 / Chapter 2.3 --- Key Success Factors For Hong Kong's Development As An International Banking Centre --- p.8 / Chapter 2.4 --- Characteristics and Trends of Developments For The Foreign Banks in Hong Kong --- p.12 / Chapter 3. --- METHODOLOGY --- p.16 / Chapter 3.1 --- Literature Review --- p.16 / Chapter 3.2 --- Questionnaire --- p.16 / Chapter 3.3 --- Personal Interviews --- p.17 / Chapter 3.4 --- Limitations --- p.18 / Chapter 4. --- RESEARCH FINDINGS --- p.20 / Chapter 4.1 --- Questionnaire Survey --- p.20 / Factors Ranking --- p.20 / Changes in Factors' Conditions --- p.23 / Scope of Business --- p.27 / Chapter 4.2 --- Business Opportunities --- p.31 / Trade Financing --- p.31 / Project Financing --- p.34 / Investment Banking --- p.36 / Private Banking --- p.38 / Chapter 4.3 --- Interpretations and Implications --- p.40 / Chapter 5. --- HONG KONG'S FUTURE AS AN INTERNATIONAL BANKING CENTRE --- p.44 / Chapter 5.1 --- The China Issue --- p.44 / Chapter 5.2 --- Competition From Neighboring Economies --- p.45 / Chapter 5.3 --- Improving Competitiveness --- p.46 / Chapter 6. --- CONCLUSION --- p.50 / APPENDICES --- p.53 / Chapter I. --- The Banking System of Hong Kong / Chapter II. --- Sample Questionnaire / Chapter III. --- Composition of Survey Respondents / Chapter IV. --- Regression Results of Cross-Country Correlation of Factors' Ranking / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.63

This research is an investigation of the relationship between employees 'happiness' and the financial performance of a financial services organisation in South Africa. As a component of the financial services industry the banking sector contributes greatly to the economic growth of the country. The South African Banking sector is concentrated and highly competitive. It is vital for banks to maintain competitiveness and ever increasing global competition adds further pressure on organisations to financially perform so as to meet the demands of their shareholders. The literature that has been reviewed and previous research suggest that employee 'happiness' is a vital variable influencing the performance and success of individuals. Organisational performance will be measured in terms of financial performance for the purposes of this research. The concept of financial performance and 'happiness' are discussed and a questionnaire based on the Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener et al,1985) is used to determine the levels of 'happiness' at selected branches within the institution. The individual branches financial performance is determined via calculating selected ratios, namely cumulative leverage, cost to income ratio and net yield. An analysis of correlation was conducted to establish whether or not a relationship of statistical significance exists between employee 'happiness' and financial performance. It was concluded that there is no relationship of statistical significance between employee 'happiness' and the financial performance of branches within the organisation, it was suggested that other factors exert a much greater influence over financial performance. Some of these factors influencing financial performance are discussed and recommendations for further research are made.

Doctorat en sciences sociales, politiques et économiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

by Au Wai-keung, Francis. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1988. / Bibliography: leaves 48-51.

This dissertation examines how European and American banking institutions catering to middle- and working-class people sought to mobilize their capital to challenge the predominant model of international financial capitalism during the interwar years. Focusing on four sets of financial institutions whose identities were intimately linked with the “popular” clientele they served—savings banks, cooperative banks, trade union banks, and their communist analogues—I chart how influential actors within these institutions engaged in transnational efforts to challenge the entrenched position of private banks in international finance, though in pursuit of divergent political and commercial objectives. Drawing upon politicized attitudes towards popular capital and motivated by the opportunities and pressures of post-World War I internationalism, they attempted to build parallel institutional channels that could mobilize the modest financial assets of the masses to compete with or even displace capitalist banking. This study reconstructs formal and informal networks of debate and activism in which savings bankers, cooperators, and labor activists developed projects for international financial action based on popular ownership and participation. To uncover these networks, I draw on an eclectic range of sources including national and international archives, periodicals produced by syndical, cooperative, communist, and savings bank movements, and private correspondence of American and European leaders in these movements. I argue for a more capacious understanding of the political valence of financialization in this period. Far from being accepted as a neutral outcome of economic development, lamented as a depoliticizing penetration of capitalist logic into the social life of the masses, or turned to narrowly nationalistic ends, popular financial ownership—whether by individuals or institutions claiming to represent them—was recognized as a foundation on which to enact transnational solidarity. However, the political content of this solidarity varied considerably between these projects of international popular finance. Some of them sought to moralize capitalism within liberal or fascist political structures, while others aimed to strengthen cooperative or socialist alternatives. My dissertation presents an institutional history of projects of popular financial power and their limits which will be of interest to scholars of modern Europe and the U.S., international institutions, transnationalism, and global capitalism. I also hope to offer historical perspective on ongoing debates about the potential for collective action by workers, consumers, and investors in our own financialized era.

M. Tech. Business Information Systems / The technological world is emerging and advancing rapidly. Organisations aspire to meet their business goals and strategic objectives. IT projects have the ability to enable organisations meet their business goals and objectives hence organisations invest a lot of time and money on implementing them. The increasing need for organisations to use technology has made organisations implement IT projects. IT projects are implemented to achieve efficiency and effectiveness that is crucial in achieving business goals and strategic objectives. Other benefits include, improved and increased customer satisfaction, improved growth and development within the teams and competitive advantage. Despite an increase in studies on the performance metrics for IT project success in organisations, IT projects still fail. Many IT Projects are considered failed when they are not delivered on time, not delivered within budget, and when the delivered solution does not meet the business requirements. This research study aimed at determining the performance metrics for IT project success within a financial organisation

M. Tech. Cost and Management Accounting / This research seeks to determine, through a critical analysis of the Land Banks financial management strategy and National Treasury oversight model, to identify more efficient and effective oversight tools. A qualitative research methodology was utilised, involving a detailed literature review, an analysis of Land Banks financial data, and the gathering of data through interviews. The qualitative phase of the research entailed in-depth interviews with subject matter experts within the Land Bank and the National Treasury.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aangesien dit in praktyk erken word dat strategie ‘n natuurlike komplekse saak is, is die relevante strategiese prosesse en aktiwiteite binne organisasies ondersoek, met die doel van die studie om dieper begrip te verkry van die strategiese rolle wat lei tot die formulering en uitvoering van die strategie. Daar word bevind dat mededingende voordele gevind word uit unieke strategiese prosesse binne die organisasie, wat weer afhanklik is van spesifieke faktore, gedrag, redevoering en kommunikasie, asook op die vlak van verdeelde strategiese verstandhouding binne die organisasie. Die finansiële dienste industrie in Namibië vorm die fokus van hierdie studie. Finansiële dienste maatskappye word geag as gewaagde, hoogs komplekse instansies, as gevolg van die verskeidenheid ontasbare produkte en dienste wat hulle aanbied. Die besigheidsmodelle wat aangewend word, het ontwikkel in hoogs gesofistikeerde prosesstelle wat gewigtige beleggings in tegnologie en besigheidssisteme vereis. Capricorn Investment Holdings (CIH) is as praktyk studie gebruik om ondersoek in te stel na die mikro-strategie en leiding binne die finansiële dienste industrie in Namibië. Vir die rede is die fokus op die bankwese (Bank Windhoek) en versekerings maatskappye (Welwitschia Nammic Versekerings Makelaars en Santam Namibië). Bank Windhoek, Welwitschia Nammic Versekerings Makelaars en Santam Namibië is dogtersmaatskappye van CIH. Daar is baie voordele verbonde aan die ondersoek van die beplanning van die mikro-strategiese perspektief, soos deur beide die dinamiese en die nagevolge van die strategie aksie te beklemtoon, terwyl daar vergunning gemaak word vir ‘n baie beter begrip van die veelvoudige faktore wat die strategiese prosesses beinvloed. Hierdie sluit in sosiale, politieke en ekonomiese samehang waarin strategiese aksie plaasgevind het. Die hoofbevindings van hierdie studie is dat strategiese prosesse minder gestruktureerd is by groepsvlak, as in die dogtersmaatskappye. Die kultuur van die organisie, insluitende die gedrag en optrede van die leiers, bepaal die strategiese dink vermoeë van die werknemers. Verder bewys die bevindings dat strategiese bekwaamheid sterker is by die leierskap vlak en dat bekwame maatskappye waarskynlik meer belanghebbendes sal insluit in die formulering van hul strategie. Die bevindings stel ook voor dat daar ‘n behoefte is om instinktiewe benaderings-praktyke tot die strategie ontwikkeling in te sluit. Ten laaste, formele beplannings prosesse oortref die interaksies waar strategie ontwikkel is, deur informele gesprekke en besprekings. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since it is recognised that strategy-as-a-practice is an inherently complex affair, the relevant strategic processes and activities within organisations were explored, with the purpose of the study being to gain a deeper understanding of the strategising roles that lead to the formulation and implementation of strategy. It was found that competitive advantage comes from unique strategic processes within the organisation, which, in turn, depend on specific actors, behaviours, discourse and communication, as well as on the level of shared strategic understanding within the organisation. The financial services industry in Namibia formed the focus of the study. Financial services companies are regarded as risky, highly complex institutions, because of the mostly intangible products and services they offer. The business models they employ have evolved into highly sophisticated sets of processes that require heavy investments in technology and business systems. Capricorn Investment Holdings (CIH) was used as a case study to examine micro strategy and strategising within the financial services industry in Namibia. Focus was therefore placed on banking (Bank Windhoek) and insurance companies (Welwitschia Nammic Insurance Brokers and Santam Namibia). Bank Windhoek, Welwitschia Nammic Insurance Brokers and Santam Namibia are subsidiary companies of CIH. Examining strategising from the micro strategic perspective has many advantages, such as highlighting both the dynamics and the consequences of strategic action, while allowing for a much richer understanding of the multiple factors that influence strategic processes. These include the social, political and economic contexts within which strategic action has occurred. The main findings of this study are that strategising processes are less structured at group level than within the subsidiary companies. The culture of the organisation, including the behaviours of leaders, determines the strategic thinking capabilities of staff. Moreover, the findings show that strategising capabilities are stronger at leadership level and that mature companies are likely to involve more stakeholders in the formulation of their strategy. The findings also suggest that there is a need to include intuitive approaches in strategy development. Lastly, within CIH formal strategising processes outweigh those interactions where strategy is developed through informal talks and discussions.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The efficiency and availability of financial services for the poor is a global problem, and has only recently started to enjoy attention in South Africa. This dissertation aims to study the problems experienced by the South African microfinance industry, which includes a vast range of financial products. The survey conducted of the South African industry indicates that its makeup is significantly different from the industries in Latin America and Asia. The problems in the industry are prioritised and show the high cost structure to be the most pressing issue. A number of these issues show agreement as expressed by Spearman rank correlation coefficients. Clear trends exist between distinct market-segments in the industry. Tests for differences in location of specific populations indicate significant differences in perceptions regarding these segments. The government's recent suggestion to unify the financial service regulators into a mega-regulator is based on the assumption that the microcredit and commercial credit industries share the same priorities and problems. The very low Spearman rank correlation coefficient found in this study, on the other hand, seems to indicate that no reason exists to assume the priorities are the same at the two levels. Finally, it is shown by means of a "best practice matrix", that solutions to most problems can be found, but that the fit is dependent on a large number of variables. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die beskikbaarheid van finansiële dienste vir armes is 'n wêreldwye probleem, en het eers onlangs meer aandag in Suid Afrika begin geniet. Hierdie studie fokus op die probleme wat ervaar word in die mikrokrediet (mikrolenings) industrie. Die opname toon dat die Suid-Afrikaanse industrie beduidend verskil in samestelling van die ooreenstemmende industrieë in Suid-Amerika en Asië. Die probleme in die industrie is geprioritiseer en toon dat die hoë koste-struktuur die grootste probleem is. Sekere kwelpunte toon ooreenstemming, uitgedruk by wyse van Spearman se rangkorrelasie-koëffesiënt. Duidelike tendense bestaan tussen onderskeie mark-segmente in die industrie. Toetse vir ooreenstemming in die ligging van sekere populasies toon beduidende verskille in persepsies rakende hierdie segmente. Die regering se onlangse voorstel om die beheer-liggame van finansiële dienste saam te snoer in een liggaam is gebaseer op die aanname dat die mikrokrediet en kommersiële krediet industrië dieselfde probleme en prioriteite deel. Die baie lae Spearman rangkorrelasie-koëffisiënt impliseer egter dat daar geen grondige rede bestaan om aan te neem dat die prioriteite dieselfde is vir die twee vlakke nie. Laastens word beste praktyke aangedui in die vorm van 'n "beste praktyk matriks". Oplossings vir byna alle probleme kan gevind word, maar die toepaslikheid is afhanklik van 'n wye verskeidenheid veranderlikes.