This thesis describes the research which has been undertaken into a particular area of policy making in the UK, that of the process of designing and implementing programmes aimed at helping industrial firms to become more competitive. Investigations have focused on how the design process is conducted within the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which has lead responsibility for industry in Whitehall. The research had Uvo primary aims. First was to provide a detailed description of the process of designing programmes. Based on the research findings it is proposed that the process comprises the components of'Issue Identification', 'Programme Implementation', and 'Evaluation and Feedback'. The thesis discusses the private nature of the work involved in programme design, and that consequently researchers are often unable to directly observe the activities comprising the process. It is suggested that the veil of secrecy surrounding the development of programmes has prevented substantial debate of this research topic. As a civil servant employed in the DTI, the author has been able to review the activities involved 'first hand', and uncover numerous aspects of the process previously not investigated. Based on the analysis of five case study examples, a systems model has been developed which provides a detailed description o f the structure of the design process, and the mechanisms that are employed. The second aim of the research was to develop proposals for improving current arrangements, towards achieving better value for money in the design and operation of support programmes. The thesis describes how a Business Process Re-engineering approach was adopted to exploit the detailed knowledge of the design system which had been gained, with the aim of discovering deficiencies in the current process and developing proposals for. overcoming problems. Investigations showed that the current guidance provided to officials employed in programme design is inadequate in fully supporting them in the task. It is suggested that this deficiency can be overcome through the introduction of a new set of comprehensive guidance, to be contained in an alternative document referred to as the Handbook for Programme Design and Operation. The handbook, it is proposed, would comprise good practice advice across the broad range of activities involved in programme design. Proposals for further improving the design process through the introduction of effective knowledge management were also developed, and these are again set out in the thesis.

This thesis investigates the association between corporate governance mechanisms and earnings management in industrial Jordanian firms. We identify the most important corporate governance mechanisms that have an effect on accounting choices and operating decisions, investigate the tools that managers use to decrease or increase earnings in Jordanian industrial firms, and finally, determine which accruals model is more powerful to detect earnings management in Jordanian industrial companies. Historically, corporate governance mechanisms are considered to be the most important factors in assessing and monitoring the effectiveness of financial reporting (Brown, Pottb and Wömpenerb, 2014), and may be considered to be a cornerstone of control in general. Internal and external corporate governance is established by senior managers to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations and reduce the incidence of error or manipulation in accounting systems (Lee, 2006). Earnings management is considered one of the most important issues related to financial reporting, particularly after the Enron and WorldCom scandals. Earnings management behaviours are also related to low levels of corporate social responsibility and improvements in both areas would be expected to lead to improvements in the quality of corporate governance. Mixed methodology is used in this research including both quantitative and qualitative analyses. The quantitative analysis used accruals models the Standard Jones model (Jones 1991), modified Jones model (Dechow, Sloan and Sweeney, 1995), and the Peasnell, Pope and Young margin model (2000) as measures of earnings management and used these variables in conjunction with corporate governance factors. Annual financial reports that were published by the Amman stock market over the period 2005 to 2012 were used to extract the data for corporate governance characteristics of the firms. The qualitative analysis involved semi-structured interviews, conducted with general managers, financial managers and internal audit managers to provide in-depth information about corporate governance issues that we could not investigate easily through quantitative methods and to provide understanding of the context for the firm s earnings management. The qualitative analysis identified a range of motivations for earnings management in Jordanian firms including attempts to reduce customs fees; tax avoidance; the desire to attract more investors and increase share price, and the desire to increase management compensation. We find also that the Peasnell, Pope and Young margin model (2000) is a more powerful model for explaining earnings management in Jordan than the more commonly used accruals models. Quantitative results indicate that the ownership structure of the business plays a more significant role in constraining earnings management than characteristics relating to the board of directors or the characteristics of the audit process. Furthermore, the interviews also explored in depth a number of cultural factors and external economic factors, which were found to be related to the incidence of earnings management. Relevant cultural factors include particularly the tribal system that operates in Jordan, which creates pressures on firms likely to increase earnings management and external economic factors include the recent Middle East revolutions and adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards. The findings could be useful to investors, senior managers in Jordanian industrial firms, and legislators in Jordan, in relation to decisions about how to enhance the quality of monitoring mechanisms and constrain the incidence of earnings management. Our methodology and evaluation of standard accruals models in this context may also prove useful to other researchers on earnings management in developing economies.

This research was designed to investigate whether or not there are significant positive relationships between the total number of reasons production employees cite for staying with an industrial firm and measures of both job performance and job satisfaction. In addition, this study sought relationships between employee work values and both job performance and job satisfaction. Significant positive correlations have been established for tribalistic and existential values with production worker job performance. Further, significant positive correlations were shown for conformist values, and negative correlations for manipulative values with both job satisfaction and with the total number of reasons cited for staying with the firm. This study gives support to a situational theory of work motivation in which both job performance and satisfaction are dependent on the strength of employee job inertia.

Très peu d'études empiriques ont analysé les déterminants qui influencent les modes d'organisation de la fonction contrôle de gestion dans les grandes entreprises industrielles marocaines. La présente recherche, qui prend pour cadre le Maroc, explore les déterminants qui influencent les différentes configurations de la fonction contrôle de gestion dans les grandes entreprises industrielles marocaines. Il convient de ce fait de s'interroger sur la nature des facteurs : s'agit-il de pressions institutionnelles ? Pour ce faire, nous avons développé quatre chapitres complémentaires articulés en deux parties, afin de répondre à la problématique suivante : « Quelle est l'influence des facteurs institutionnels sur les configurations de la fonction contrôle de gestion au sein des grandes entreprises industrielles marocaines ? ». Dans une première partie et conformément à une structure de recherche classique, nous avons fait l'exposition d'une revue de la littérature, suivie d'une étude exploratoire du terrain exploitant qualitativement des entretiens réalisés auprès des professionnels marocains à travers cinq études de cas, pour aboutir enfin à un modèle conceptuel. Ce modèle conceptuel présente les modes d'organisation de la fonction contrôle de gestion et les déterminants institutionnels susceptibles d'influencer les différentes configurations de cette fonction. Notre recherche se fonde essentiellement sur l'approche néo-institutionnelle. Dans la deuxième partie, nous avons mené une étude empirique quantitative-hypothético-déductive, à base de 113 grandes entreprises industrielles marocaines. Dans cette partie, nous avons présenté d'abord les caractéristiques des 4 types de la FCG. Ensuite, nous avons approfondi notre analyse quantitative pour mesurer le degré d'influence de chaque déterminant sur la FCG. Enfin, la recherche s'achève en dégageant les principales implications de notre modélisation sur l'introduction la typologie de Lambert et Sponem de la fonction contrôle de gestion au Maroc. / Very few empirical studies have analyzed the determinants that influence patterns of organization of management control function in Moroccan large industrial firms. This research, which takes Morocco as a context, explores the determinants that influence the different configurations of management control function in Moroccan large industrial firms .It should thereby question the nature of these determinants : are there institutional pressures? To do this, we have developed four additional chapters articulated in two parts, in order to answer the following question: “What is the influence of institutional factors on patterns of management control function within large Moroccan industrial firms?” In the first part and in accordance with a traditional research structure, we have presented our literature review, followed by an exploratory field research that analyses qualitatively interviews conducted with Moroccan professionals through five case studies to finally arrive to a conceptual model. This conceptual model shows the modes of organization of management control function and the institutional determinants that may influence the different configurations of this function. Our research is mainly based on the neo-institutional approach. In the second part, we conducted a quantitative-hypothetical-deductive empirical study, based on 113 large Moroccan industrial firms. In this section, we firstly presented the characteristics of the 4 Management Control Function types. Then we have deepened our quantitative analysis to measure the degree of influence of each determinant on the MCF. Finally, we concluded our research by identifying the main implications of our model to the introduction of Sponem Lambert typology on the management control function in Morocco.

Le rayonnement des experts scientifiques et techniques porte en lui deux dimensions ; une organisationnelle, favorisant l’émergence et le développement de compétences clés et une individuelle contribuant à la motivation intrinsèque de l’expert. Pendant entrepreneurial du rayonnement des enseignants-chercheurs, le rayonnement des experts est « un élément personnel et organisationnel d’appréciation de la réputation de l’expert, évoluant avec le développement de sa carrière, permettant de décrire ses activités en relation directe avec son domaine d’expertise, à l’intérieur ou à l’extérieur de l’entreprise et de prendre en compte son impact personnel dans sa communauté de pratique de référence ». Sa prise en compte dans les pratiques de gestion des experts permet d’apporter un nouvel éclairage sur des pratiques en quête de renouveau. Sans résoudre l’ensemble des problèmes de la gestion des experts, la recherche prend en compte le rayonnement des experts comme levier d’amélioration de leurs pratiques de gestion. L’objectif est d’analyser le rayonnement des experts dans sa double dimensionnalité. L’étude de cas multiple menée sur quatre grandes entreprises industrielles propose une réflexion sur la contribution du rayonnement des experts à la performance de l’entreprise. Ce lien est conditionné par l’intégration du rayonnement à tous les niveaux hiérarchiques de l’entreprise – au niveau de la stratégie générale, du management stratégique des ressources humaines et de l'opérationnel. Le rayonnement comme levier d’amélioration des pratiques de gestion des experts s’inscrit sur le long terme, permettant à l’entreprise d’identifier et d’anticiper ses besoins en compétences d’experts / Experts’ “outreach” is a two-dimension element. First dimension is organizational dimension, which contributes to core competencies development. Second one is individual dimension, which leads to experts’ intrinsic motivation.Experts’ outreach is the parallel of scientific reputation used for researchers. It can be defined as “a personal and organizational element to appreciate experts’ reputation, which changes with expert’s career development. Outreach can take place inside or outside the organization and also allows to measure expert’s impact on his / her scientific community”. The integration of outreach in experts’ management practices can contribute to improve practices, which need some renewal. The ambition is not to resolve all the already identified problems, but to bear a new perspective on the experts’ management practices. The research aims to study both dimensions of experts’ outreach, linked with the firm performance. A multiple case study is realized to analyze four big industrial firms. The link between outreach and firm performance depends on outreach integration within all the strategic levels of the organization, it means general strategy, strategic human resources management and operational management. To conclude, experts’ outreach contributes to improve experts’ management practices, on a long-term perspective. It allows firms to identify and anticipate their needs of experts’ competences

This study investigates the association between traditional and alternative working capital measures and the returns of industrial firms listed on the Johannesburg Stock E"change. Twenty five variables for all industrial firms listed for the most recent 10 years were derived from standardised annual balance sheet data of the University of Pretoria's Bureau of Financial Analysis. Traditional liquidity ratios measuring working capital position, activity and leverage, and alternative liquidity measures, were calculated for each of the 135 participating firms for the 1 0 years. These working capital measures were tested for association with five return measures for every firm over the same period. This was done by means of a chi-square test for association, followed by stepwise multiple regression undertaken to quantify the underlying structural relationships between the return measures and the working capital measures. The results of the tests indicated that the traditional working capital leverage measures, in particular, total current liabilities divided by funds flow, and to a lesser e"tent, long-term loan capital divided by net working capital, displayed the greatest associations, and e"plained the majority of the variance in the return measures. At-test, undertaken to analyse the size effect on the working capital measures employed by the participating firms, compared firms according to total assets. The results revealed significant differences between the means of the top quartile of firms and the bottom quartile, for eight of the 13 working capital measures included in the study. A nonparametric test was applied to evaluate the sector effect on the working capital measures employed by the participating firms. The rank scores indicated significant differences in the means across the sectors for si" of the 13 working capital measures. A decrease in the working capital leverage measures of current liabilities divided by funds flow, and long-term loan capital divided by net working capital, should signal an increase in returns, and vice versa. It is recommended that financial managers consider these findings when forecasting firm returns. / Business Management / D. Com. (Business Management)

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2018-03-16T13:21:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria Luísa Lacerda Albertão_.pdf: 2194326 bytes, checksum: 61ff37249f37cc5d5001de0fe0bf0f55 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-16T13:21:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria Luísa Lacerda Albertão_.pdf: 2194326 bytes, checksum: 61ff37249f37cc5d5001de0fe0bf0f55 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-23 / Nenhuma / As rotinas influentes no processo inovador de firmas industriais são o foco deste trabalho. Fundamentando-se na teoria econômica evolucionária, que tem no conceito de rotina o elemento explicativo para as mudanças (inovações) introduzidas pelas firmas em ambientes de seleção de mercado. Com objetivo de identificar qual conjunto de rotinas as firmas com melhor desempenho inovador e econômico executam, foi feita uma análise dos dados de uma pesquisa SURVEY realizada em 2015, com 1.331 firmas industriais do Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Para esta investigação foram realizadas primeiramente análises descritivas e bivariadas dos dados, e, posteriormente, utilizou-se da modelagem em equações estruturais com estimação Partial Least Squares (PLS). O estudo apontou para um conjunto de 41 empresas que apresentam desempenho superior à média e realizam rotinas com o papel de coordenação e controle e rotinas com o papel de incorporação de conhecimento. Especificamente se destacam rotinas tais como: adaptação das tecnologias em uso para as suas próprias necessidades, prototipagem, realizam a concepção original de seus próprios produtos, integram todos os setores com o uso da informática, padronizam e documentam os diferentes procedimentos de trabalho, formalizam o procedimento de planejamento e controle da produção (PCP) e mantém a capacitação de pessoal adequada. Os resultados do estudo corroboram com a literatura informando que há um conjunto de firmas que realizam rotinas específicas que as conferem melhor desempenho econômico e inovador. Também há convergência com a literatura que discute inovação no Brasil e RS ao se identificar apenas um grupo seleto de 41 empresas, das 1331 respondentes, que possuem rotinas mais específicas voltadas à inovação e com resultados superiores às demais. A identificação das características destas firmas e suas rotinas permite ampliar o conhecimento a cerca do comportamento da firma industrial inovadora do Rio Grande do Sul e permite melhor refletir a cerca de políticas que visem ampliar este grupo restrito de empresas. / The influential routines in the innovative process of industrial firms are the focus of this work. Relying on evolutionary economic theory, it has in the concept of 'routine' the explanatory element for the changes (innovations) introduced by firms in market selection environments. In order to identify which set of routines the firms with the best innovative and economic performance performed, an analysis of the data of a research survey conducted in 2015 was carried out with 1,331 industrial firms from Rio Grande do Sul (RS). For this investigation, descriptive and bivariate analyzes of the data were performed first, and later, it was used the modeling in structural equations with Partial Least Squares (PLS) estimation. The study pointed to a set of 41 companies that perform above average performance and perform routines with the role of coordination and control and routines with the role of incorporation of knowledge. Specifically, they highlight routines such as: adapting the technologies in use to their own needs, prototyping, realizing the original design of their own products, integrating all sectors with the use of information technology, standardizing and documenting different work procedures, formalizing the production planning and control (PCP) and maintains adequate staff training. The results of the study corroborate with the literature that there is a set of firms that perform specific routines that give them better economic and innovative performance. There is also convergence with the literature that discusses innovation in Brazil and RS by identifying only a select group of 41 firms, out of the 1331 respondents, who have more specific routines focused on innovation and with results superior to others. The identification of the characteristics of these firms and their routines allows to increase the knowledge about the behavior of the innovative industrial firm of Rio Grande do Sul and, so, better reflect about some policies that aim to expand this restricted group of firms.

This study investigates the association between traditional and alternative working capital measures and the returns of industrial firms listed on the Johannesburg Stock E"change. Twenty five variables for all industrial firms listed for the most recent 10 years were derived from standardised annual balance sheet data of the University of Pretoria's Bureau of Financial Analysis. Traditional liquidity ratios measuring working capital position, activity and leverage, and alternative liquidity measures, were calculated for each of the 135 participating firms for the 1 0 years. These working capital measures were tested for association with five return measures for every firm over the same period. This was done by means of a chi-square test for association, followed by stepwise multiple regression undertaken to quantify the underlying structural relationships between the return measures and the working capital measures. The results of the tests indicated that the traditional working capital leverage measures, in particular, total current liabilities divided by funds flow, and to a lesser e"tent, long-term loan capital divided by net working capital, displayed the greatest associations, and e"plained the majority of the variance in the return measures. At-test, undertaken to analyse the size effect on the working capital measures employed by the participating firms, compared firms according to total assets. The results revealed significant differences between the means of the top quartile of firms and the bottom quartile, for eight of the 13 working capital measures included in the study. A nonparametric test was applied to evaluate the sector effect on the working capital measures employed by the participating firms. The rank scores indicated significant differences in the means across the sectors for si" of the 13 working capital measures. A decrease in the working capital leverage measures of current liabilities divided by funds flow, and long-term loan capital divided by net working capital, should signal an increase in returns, and vice versa. It is recommended that financial managers consider these findings when forecasting firm returns. / Business Management / D. Com. (Business Management)