策略聯盟在管理理論與實務上都是重要且常被提及的議題，但因組織進入策略聯盟後績效提升的成果不一致，以致廣受學者與經理人之質疑與討論。近期研究顯示，策略聯盟是否能提升績效與組織學習或改變有關。本研究以組織慣性觀點檢視在策略聯盟過程中組織慣性之所在、展現與成因，以及透過策略聯盟如何化解組織慣性，達成焦點組織跟隨策略意圖而來的組織改變。 Hannan與Freeman(1984)據組織生態學提出的組織慣性觀點認為，組織為使利害關係人持續投入資源，須達到當責性(accountability)與穩定性(reliability)的要求，如此將令組織在重複產出下產生慣性(inertia)。組織慣性具有效率、低成本及自動化等功能以因應穩定的環境，但當環境變遷時，組織慣性則將成為組織因應環境的絆腳石與組織改變的障礙。據此，本研究目的有二：一、希望透過聯盟雙造（多方）受訪者的觀點，探討焦點組織的組織慣性所在與展現。二、如何透過組織間的策略聯盟化解焦點組織的組織慣性，達成焦點組織策略改變之目的，找出策略聯盟成員廠商與領導廠商的條件及化解組織慣性的機制。 組織慣性引自物理學的慣性概念，本研究利用跨領域理論之借用，嘗試與當前的聯盟研究對話，透過質性紮根的研究方式，訪談紡織產業中參與策略聯盟之廠商，以變革事件為分析單位，探索廠商參與策略聯盟過程中出現的組織慣性及其化解方式，並就本研究之發現與相關組織理論對話。 本研究核心問題為：一、組織慣性成因；二、組織慣性之化解；三、策略聯盟如何化解組織慣性。理論貢獻包括：一、提出組織內各單位、各層級無法同步改變是組織慣性之成因。二、若可使組織內部達成同步改變，則可化解組織慣性；透過認知、誘因、資源與能力的互補提升等三種機制可影響各個個體的決策與行動。三、策略聯盟可透過對象的選擇，以鏡像脈絡與聯盟倡導人途徑造成焦點組織同步改變，化解其組織慣性。實務意涵為提供具有組織慣性的組織改變的可行途徑，以及策略聯盟夥伴的選取與聯盟化解組織慣性之機制。 / Strategic alliances are a popular practical strategy in the management field and represent an important area of academic research. The outcomes of organizations that have joined strategic alliances have been inconsistent, however, so strategic alliance is still a black box for management scholars and managers. Recent studies have shown that the performance of strategic alliances is related to the process of organizational learning or changes in the focal organizations. This research is based on the organizational inertia perspective, which analyzes the organizational inertia of a focal organization in the process of strategic alliance through the Management Matrix (Seetoo, 2005). This matrix shows the locations, causes, and presentations of the organizational inertia. Overcoming organizational inertia through strategic alliances may allow organizations to achieve expected changes in strategic intent. Organizational inertia was originally a concept from physics. In this study, we have borrowed from multiple theories in an attempt to dialogue with the current research on strategic alliances. According to organizational ecological theory, organizational inertia emerges when an organization wants its stakeholders to continue to input their resources into the organization, and ,in turn, the organization must provide output that meets the stakeholders’ requirements regarding accountability and reliability. After repeated production and documentation, the organization acquires inertia (Hannan & Freeman, 1984). In a stable environment, an organization with inertia is efficient, low-cost, and automated. When the environment is changing, however, organizational inertia will become an obstacle for organizations in their ability to respond to external changes. This study has several purposes, First, through the interviewees, who are key persons in dyadic (or multiple) partnerships in strategic alliances, we aim to investigate the locations, causes, and presentations of the focal organizations’ organizational inertia. Second, in order to analyze the process of overcoming the focal organizations’ inertia in a strategic alliance context, we aim to identify the routes, mechanisms, and characteristics of the strategic alliance partner that aid in overcoming the focal organization’s inertia. Through qualitative interviews with the participating organizations, all of which have joined strategic alliances in the textile industry, our analysis focuses on the events surrounding strategic change. We explore the presentations and overcoming of the focal organizations’ inertia in the strategic alliance process. The findings of this study are brought into the conversation through dialogue with relevant organization theory. From the analysis of the qualitative data from multiple resources, we put forward the following three propositions: First, the focal organization’s lack of coherence and synchronous change are the cause of the organizational inertia. Second, if coherence and synchronous change can be reached within the organization, organizational inertia can be resolved. Third, a strategic alliance can help the focal organization to achieve the coherent and synchronous change to overcome its organizational inertia. This study makes several theoretical contributions. First, we find that the focal organizations inability to enact coherent, synchronous change is the main cause of organizational inertia. Second, if synchronous change can be reached within the organization, this can resolve organizational inertia; offering new information to influence cognition, incentives, resources, and capabilities are complementary enhancement mechanisms that can affect individuals’ decisions and actions. Third, strategic alliance through the selection of an alliance partner, a mirroring context, and an alliance champion can improve the focal organizations’ ability to access synchronous change to overcome its organizational inertia. When the partners in the strategic alliance have high reputation and capability, they will accomplish these mechanisms more easily. For the coherence of multiple decision makers, one partner of the strategic alliance must mirror the focal organization to obtain a better result in overcoming focal organizational inertia. Other, there needs to be a champion in the multiple strategic alliance who can to persuade people to alter their cognition, plan incentive allocation, integrate the organizations’ capabilities and resources, and so on. The practical implications of this research are that it provides a viable way to overcome organizational inertia, as well as selecting strategic alliance partners and the mechanisms and routes of strategic alliances.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Fullerenes are all-carbon molecules with polyhedral structures where each atom is bonded with three other atoms and the faces of the polyhedron are pentagons and hexagons. Fullerene graphs model the fullerene structures and are cubic planar graphs having twelve pentagonal faces and the remaining faces are hexagonal. This work explores two models that seek to determine the maximum number of bulky addends that may bond to the surface of a fullerene. The first model assumes that any two bulky addends are too large to bond to adjacent carbon atoms. This is equivalent to finding a graph-theoretical maximum independent set: a vertex subset of maximum size such that no two vertices are adjacent. The problem of determining the maximum independent set order is NP-hard for general cubic planar graphs and the complexity for the fullerene subclass was previously unknown. By extending the work of Graver, a graph-theoretical foundation is laid then used to derive a linear-time algorithm for solving the maximum independent set problem for fullerenes. A discussion of the relationship between maximum independent sets and some specific families of fullerenes follows. The second model refines the first by adding an additional requirement that the resulting molecule is stable according to Hückel theory: the molecule exhibits a stable distribution of π electrons. The graph-theoretical description of this model is a maximum closed-shell independent set: a vertex subset of maximum size such that no two vertices are adjacent and exactly half of the eigenvalues of the adjacency matrix of the graph that results from the deletion of the vertex subset are positive. Computations for finding a maximum closed-shell independent set rely on determining whether fullerene subgraphs are closed-shell (satisfy the eigenvalue requirement) so a linear-time algorithm for finding the inertia (number of negative, zero, and positive eigenvalues) of unicyclic graphs is given. This algorithm is part of an exponential-time algorithm for finding a maximum closed-shell independent set of a fullerene molecule that is fast enough for practical use. An improved upper bound of 3n/8 + 3/2 for the closed-shell independence number is included.

How should central banks react to movements in the exchange rate? Can social welfare be improved if the policy maker is giving explicit or implicit consideration to fluctuations in the exchange rate? These are some of the principal questions addressed in this thesis, which analyzes the influence of exchange rates on prices and monetary policy, from an empirical as well as a theoretical perspective. The thesis consists of four self-contained papers, and sets off by providing some empirical evidence for incomplete exchange rate pass-through. Incomplete exchange rate pass-through is subsequently incorporated into a theoretical model of a small open economy, to study how exchange rate fluctuations affect monetary policy. The first chapter is an empirical paper studying the relation between exchange rates and prices, using data on Swedish exports of automobiles and kraft paper. A price determining error correction model indicates results consistent with price discrimination and incomplete exchange rate pass-through. In the second chapter, a small open economy aggregate supply-aggregate demand model, allowing for incomplete exchange rate pass-through, is developed to analyze the effects of limited pass-through on monetary policy. The results suggest that the optimal policy reaction, both to foreign and domestic shocks, is dependent on the degree of exchange rate pass-through. The third chapter studies what the delegated monetary policy should be in an open economy with limited pass-through. In particular, the question of whether to delegate an exchange rate-stabilization objective to the policy maker is investigated. The results show that incorporation of an explicit nominal, or real, exchange-rate term in the (optimized) objective function only improves social welfare marginally. The fourth chapter assumes, in contrast, that monetary policy is implemented through a simple instrument rule. It is examined whether the policy maker’s performance, in terms of social welfare, can be improved by also responding to the exchange rate. The results indicate that the exchange rate-augmented policy rules do not outperform an optimized rule without the exchange rate, irrespective of the degree of pass-through. Social welfare is, however, improved by an indirect exchange rate response, which is reached using a policy rule based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation, rather than on domestic inflation. / Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögsk., 2001

Submitted by Guilherme Machado (guilhermelelis@hotmail.com) on 2009-07-19T00:38:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertaçao MFEE Guilherme Machado.pdf: 462723 bytes, checksum: 37f59af1f922d119bd5b61eb3adeb553 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vitor Souza(vitor.souza@fgv.br) on 2009-07-20T14:10:37Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertaçao MFEE Guilherme Machado.pdf: 462723 bytes, checksum: 37f59af1f922d119bd5b61eb3adeb553 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2009-07-20T14:11:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertaçao MFEE Guilherme Machado.pdf: 462723 bytes, checksum: 37f59af1f922d119bd5b61eb3adeb553 (MD5) / Several studies in Corporate Finance consider adjustment costs of companies’ capital structure irrelevant in its form and magnitude. This paper empirically examined adjustment costs influence on dynamic rebalancing behavior of capital structure of Brazilian listed companies from 1999 to 2007. Leverage ratios were presented under three different scenarios, considering fixed costs, proportional costs and a composition of fixed and proportional costs using a simulated reduced model of the capital structure. A non-parametric data analysis reveals that companies present a dynamic behavior in its financing decisions of capital structure adjustment, but that is far from continuous. A duration model proved to be the best choice to measure time between companies’ capital structure adjustments. Results are strongly relevant and support the theory of companies’ dynamic rebalancing behavior around an optimal range. However, adjustments do not occur immediately and the persistence shocks to capital structure accounts in its great part to adjustments costs instead of a possible indifference toward capital structure. This is a pioneer paper accounting for a djustment cost of capital structure in Brazilian market, which makes room for discussion around optimal capital structure on Brazilian companies. / Diversos estudos de Finanças Corporativas consideram os custos associados aos ajustes da estrutura de capital das empresas irrelevantes tanto na forma quanto em magnitude. Este estudo analisou empiricamente a influência dos custos de ajustamento na dinâmica dos ajustes da estrutura de capital de empresas brasileiras de capital aberto no período de 1999 a 2007. A alavancagem foi abordada sob três diferentes cenários, considerando a presença de custos fixos, custos proporcionais e por uma composição de custos fixos e proporcionais através de simulações utilizando um modelo reduzido da estrutura de capital. Em seguida a análise não paramétrica da amostra revelou que as empresas apresentam um comportamento dinâmico em suas decisões de financiamento para o ajuste da estruturas de capital, mas que não se revelou contínuo. A utilização de um modelo de duration mostrou-se adequado para mensurar o intervalo de tempo entre os ajustes da estrutura de capital das empresas. Os resultados são extremamente relevantes e suportam a teoria de um comportamento de rebalanceamento dinâmico pelas empresas de suas estruturas de capital em torno de um intervalo ótimo. Entretanto os ajustes não ocorrem de forma imediata e a persistência de choques à estrutura de capital deve-se em sua maior parte aos custos associados aos ajustes do que a uma possível indiferença à estrutura de capital. . Este trabalho constitui-se como pioneiro no mercado brasileiro acerca dos custos de ajustamento da estrutura de capital e abre espaço para a discussão do comportamento ótimo em torno da estrutura de capital de empresas nacionais.

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Key terms in English and Afrikaans / Die doel van die studie was om organisasietraagheid as stremmende fenomeen te konseptualiseer en die manifestasie daarvan te ondersoek binne 'n tipiese werkorganisasie. Aandag is gegee aan organisasietransformasie binne die raamwerk van 'n diagnostiese model vir organisasie- en individuele ontwikkeling. Die empiriese studie bevestig die manifestasie van organisasietraagheid ten opsigte van die teikenorganisasie. Resultate bevestig dat respondente ten gunste is van veranderingsinisiatiewe, maar ondergeskiktes toon 'n emstige behoefte aan leierskap. Dit blyk ook dat die organisasie nie die vermoe het om vinnig op omgewingsveranderings te reageer nie. Gesonde bestuurspraktyke word nie gevolg nie en kreatiwiteit word nie aangemoedig nie. By ondergeskiktes bestaan ook twyfel oor veranderingsagente se vermoe om verandering te fasiliteer. / The purpose of the study was to conceptualise organisation inertia as a retarding phenomenon and to investigate its manifestation within a typical work organisation. Attention was given to organisational and individual development within the framework of a diagnostic model. The empirical study focussed on the manifestation of organisational inertia within the target organisation. Results confirmed that respondents are in favour of change initiatives but that the stimulation thereof do not exist. Subordinates are not encouraged to show creativity. The organisation demonstrates an incapability to respond to environmental changes and reflects a non-existence of healthy management practices. Little trust exists in the capability of change agents to facilitate change. / Economics and Management Sciences / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

Les écoulements rampants, recirculants et instationnaires d’un fluide viscoplastique autour d’un cylindre ont été étudiés.Numériquement, les morphologies des écoulements, la localisation des zones rigides, les champs de contraintes et pression autour du cylindre ainsi que le coefficient de traînée, ont été déterminés sur un large domaine des nombres de Reynolds et d’Oldroyd.Expérimentalement, les fluides étudiés sont des gels de polymère Carbopol®. Le comportement élastoviscoplastique de ces gels a été modélisé par une loi d’Herschel-Bulkley adaptée. Le montage expérimental conçu et réalisé a été validé par l'étude de l'écoulement d'un fluide newtonien autour d'un cylindre et la mise en place d’une procédure adaptée pour les fluides à seuil.On a pu constater l'influence des conditions d’interface avec l’apparition d’une morphologie de lâchers de tourbillons simultanés et symétriques. / Creeping, recirculating and unsteady flows around a cylinder for yield stress fluid were studied.Numerically, morphologies of the flows, the location of the unyielded zones, the pressure and stress fields around the cylinder and the drag coefficient were determined over a wide range of Reynolds and Oldroyd numbers.Experimentally, fluids studied are polymer gels Carbopol®. The elastoviscoplastic behavior of these gels was modeled by a Herschel-Bulkley adapted law. The experimental setup was designed and validated by studying the flow of a newtonian fluid around a cylinder. An appropriate procedure for the viscoplastic fluid was implemented.We observe the influence of interface conditions with the appearance of a morphology showing simultaneous and symmetrical vortex shedding.

The world is constantly striving towards a more sustainable living, where every part of contribution is greatly appreciated. When it comes to heating of buildings, district heating is often the main source of heat. During specific times, peak demands are created by the tenants who are demanding a lot of heat at the same time. This demand peak puts a high load on the piping system as well as the need for certain peak boilers that run on non-environmental friendly peak fuel. One solution that is presented in this degree project that solves the time difference between production and demand is by utilizing thermal storage solutions. A dynamic district heated building model is developed with proper heat propagation in the pipelines, thermal inertia in the building and heat losses through the walls of the building. This is all done utilizing 4th generation district heating temperatures. Modelica is the tool that was used to simulate different scenarios, where the preheating of indoor temperature is done to mitigate the possibility for demand peaks. Using an already existing model, implementation and adjustments are done to simulate thermal storage and investigate its effectiveness in a 4th generation district heating system. The results show that short-term energy storage is a viable solution in concrete buildings due to high building mass. However, combining both 4th generation district heating with storage in thermal mass is shown not to be suitable due to low temperatures of supply water, which is not able to increase the temperature of the building’s mass enough.

The Swedish energy power system is in the middle of a paradigm shift where the increased share of intermittent energy sources place higher demand on the ability to regulate and balance the generation and consumption of electricity. Demand flexibility, which means that consumers can adjust their energy consumption, is a promising solution to manage the imbalance in the power system. Electric heat pumps in residential buildings are recognized to have potential to serve as a flexible load. In this thesis, an aggregated multi-family residential building model is developed to generate heat load profiles for a larger number of buildings which facilitate an assessment of the heat pump flexibility. The flexibility assessment is performed for a local distribution grid area with 174 buildings and an electricity price region in Sweden with 10 146 buildings with heat pumps. The flexibility assessment analyses the heat pump load deviation between a base load case and a case where the heat pumps receive an off-signal. The assessment takes into consideration seven flexibility parameters and is conducted for ambient temperatures between -20°C and 15°C. The thermal inertia of multi-family residential buildings facilitates a load shift with a duration of 4.4 to 9.8 hours depending on the ambient temperature. The maximal average power reduction for one hour of 10 MW in a distribution grid and 169 MW in an electricity price region illustrates the potential of using heat pumps as a demand flexibility solution in the electricity grid.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:42:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:07:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 05403.pdf: 3608647 bytes, checksum: 066e3f6af2ef001c7431582e2ce35791 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP / FAPESP:96/01220-7