The central topic of the thesis is the Cuban pro-democracy opposition movement and its activities towards an official regime of Raul Castro. This is to try and achieve improvements in civil and political rights in Cuba. The opposition tools and strategies are analysed in the context of specific conditions of the current repressive Cuban regime. Special attention is dedicated to framing processes towards the local audience, communication strategies oriented to an international society, and an ability to involve external players to participate in effective pressure from outside; the so called boomerang effect. The movement's progress is displayed on a base of particular achievements as well as challenges faced in a long term pursuit to a democratic transition of the country.

The music industry worldwide is rapidly evolving as a result of commercial, technological and demographic developments. The magnitude of the strategic impact of these developments on the South African music industry is evaluated in terms of internal and external factors, such as the intrinsic industry growth levels, ability to adapt to change, the consumer buying power, audio-visual piracy and counterfeiting, literacy, employment and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Collected data from public domain and proprietary music industry sources are transformed and presented in terms of the competitiveness of the South African music industry, from which key points for strategic leverage are identified. These key points of strategic leverage include education and training, relevant music industry research, the formalisation of the music industry strategy process and the development of alternative marketing, sales and distribution channels. In comparison to specific benchmark countries, the South African music industry has significant technological and socio-economic challenges and opportunities that need to be addressed in order to become a competitive co-evolutionary participant in the world music industry. South Africa, as an emerging world player, is ideally positioned for the development and implementation of new technological and commercial systems, such as the download distribution channel. This however, requires the collaborative participation of government departments, educational institutions, public and private enterprises. In particular, in-depth research on the local music industry is needed, which should include the collection of relevant statistical data. This study presents suggestions for some strategic interventions, including an application of the Porter DNA-model. / Dissertation (MMus (Music Technology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Music / MMus / unrestricted

Os incentivos fiscais concedidos pelos entes públicos às empresas nacionais suscitam cada vez mais o interesse de estudos aprofundados em relação a seu impacto dentro das organizações. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar os efeitos dos incentivos fiscais, especificamente, da desoneração da folha de pagamento instituída pelo Plano Brasil Maior do Governo Federal em 2011, no grau de alavancagem operacional de uma empresa start-up brasileira. A pesquisa foi realizada através de um estudo de caso em uma empresa start-up atuante no Brasil no setor de tecnologia desde 2011. As análises do estudo de caso confirmaram que há uma relação direta entre a desoneração da folha de pagamento e o grau de alavancagem operacional de uma empresa. A interpretação dos dados sugere que para uma melhor eficiência dos incentivos fiscais, estes devem alterar o comportamento dos custos e despesas fixas para variáveis, diminuindo assim a exposição ao risco operacional da empresa. / Tax incentives granted by public entities to domestic companies tend to raise more interest of extensive studies in relation to its impact within organizations. This research aims to analyze the effects of tax incentives, specifically, the payroll tax exemption established by the \"Plano Brasil Maior\" of the Brazilian Federal Government in 2011, on the degree of operating leverage of a Brazilian start-up company. The research was conducted through a case study of a start-up company operating in Brazil in the technology sector since 2011. The analysis of the case study confirmed that there is a direct relation between the payroll tax exemptions and the degree of operating leverage of a business. The interpretation of the case suggests that, for a more efficiency of the tax incentives, the incentive must directly modify the fixed and variable costs and therefore reducing the company\'s exposure to operational risk

Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka vilka risker de fyra storbankerna tar vid kreditgivningen av bostadslån och hur privatrådgivare hanterar risker och osäkerheter som kan uppstå vid ett bostadslån. Teoretisk referensram: Studiens teoretiska referensram består av teorier och vetenskapliga antaganden, där de flesta behandlar begreppet risk. Det presenteras även vetenskapliga artiklar som tar upp vad tidigare forskning bidragit med i detta område. Metod: Denna studie utgår från ett hermeneutiskt förhållningssätt och präglas av en deduktiv forskningsansats. Undersökningen tillämpar den kvalitativa forskningsmetoden och datainsamlingen sker genom semistrukturerade personliga intervjuer. Studiens urval är privatrådgivare från storbankerna Nordea i Tumba, Swedbank i Tumba, Handelsbanken i S:t Eriksplan och SEB i Sergelstorg. Empiri: I empirin presenteras den insamlade datan från de fyra genomförda personliga intervjuerna. Respondenterna som deltagit i intervjuerna och bidragit med värdefull information är anonyma. / Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine what risks the four major banks takes when they give credit of a mortgage loan and how the private adviser manages risks and uncertainties that can arise in a mortgage loan. Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework consists of theories and scientific assumptions, most of which deal with the concept of risk. It also presents scientific articles dealing with what previous research has contributed in this field. Methodology: This study is based on a hermeneutic approach and is characterized by a deductive research approach. The study applies qualitative research methodology and the data collection is done through semi-structured individual interviews. The study's sample is private advisors from the four major banks that is Nordea in Tumba, Swedbank in Tumba, Handelsbanken in S:t Eriksplan and SEB in Sergelstorg. Result: The empirical analysis presents the data that is collected from the four completed personal interviews. Respondents who participated in the interviews and contributed with valuable information are anonymous. Conclusion: The study shows that the biggest risk that may arise for the bank with a mortgage loan is the customer's repayment capacity if it becomes impaired due to various factors. Private advisors manages risks by creating an understanding of the customer about what a mortgage loan means and provide advice and recommendations to prevent an impaired ability to repay.

In an ever-changing world of work Absa, as a business, is faced with various challenges including the continuous development of skills. Due to technological advancements, eLearning can provide a mechanism to rapidly build the required strategic and tactical skills that the organisation needs. This study explored the challenge of articulating the contribution of eLearning to business performance in an unbounded way. The study focused on the creation of knowledge about how the contribution of eLearning to business performance can be improved. In the process of knowledge creation, the study focused on identifying the point of value creation between Business and an eLearning intervention. This point of value creation can be seen as a leverage point. Systems Thinking was implemented as an approach in order to identify the leverage point. The following research objectives were defined: · To identify the driver problem that prevents eLearning from improving business performance. · To design the systems dynamic model that represents the driver problem. · To identify the leverage point within the systems dynamic model. · To reflect on the effect that the behaviour of the individuals, participating in the research process, has on the research inquiry. The sample of 28 focus group participants was selected from two specific divisions of Absa – the eChannels: Contact Centre and the Learning and Development Department. This sample consisted of Operational Management, Team Leaders, Contact Centre Consultants and learning design experts. Executive Management was excluded from the focus groups, but was included in the process as verifiers. This created an opportunity for Executive Management to voice their opinions. The results of the study indicate that the leverage point for successful contribution of eLearning to business performance is … A shared mental model of expectations between the participating stakeholders. Once Business and the Learning and Development Department start going through the constructive cycle of the systems dynamic model repeatedly, they will continuously build the shared mental model of expectations. This cycle will also build on the: 1) Level of visible support of the line managers; 2) Level of clarity of business needs to all relevant stakeholders; 3) Number of requests from business for eLearning opportunities; and 4) Level of awareness and understanding of appropriate eLearning interventions per target population. The effect of the positive reinforcement of the recurring cycle will ensure that eLearning continuously contributes to business performance. During the study the effect of the research process on the focus group participants as well as the effect of the focus group participants on the research process was also accounted for. Observers reflected on the behaviour of the focus group participants and found that their opinions and thought processes influenced the outcome of the study. The focus group participants felt that they had learnt something new, that the tasks set to the groups was clear and that the topics they had learnt most about were ‘systems thinking’ followed by the ’ relationship between eLearning and business performance’. Copyright / Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

Problematika výběru kapitálové struktury byla a stále je často diskutována akademickou obcí již přes půl století a stále ještě nebylo dosaženo jednoznačného souladu, která teorie kapitálu a jaké determinanty ovlivňují kapitálovou strukturu. Modligliani a Miller (1958) zformulovali moderní teorii kapitálové struktury. Tvrdí, že pokud jsou splněny přísné podmínky, kapitálová struktura je irelevantní pro hodnotu společnosti. Avšak pokud nějaké předpoklady nejsou naplněny, kapitálová struktura se stává významná. Nyní, dvě hlavní teorie kapitálové struktury převládají – teorie hierarchického pořádku a trade-off teorie. Teorie hierarchického pořádku je vysvětlena informační asymetrií mezi manažery a ostatními lidmi. Toto způsobuje rozdílné ocenění vydaných cenných papírů danými skupinami lidí. Proto společnosti preferují vydat cenné papíry nejméně citlivé na dostupné informace. Pokud potřebují volné finance, nejdříve použijí vnitřní zdroje, následně dluh a jako poslední možností je vydání nového vlastního kapitálu. Trade-off teorie řeší rovnováhu mezi daňovým štítem dluhu a náklady finanční tísně. Důsledkem tohoto substitučního vztahu je optimální kapitálová struktura, kterou by se společnosti měly snažit získat a dále udržet. Mnoho výzkumu týkající se výběru kapitálové struktury již bylo provedeno a jeho výsledky jsou stále neurčité. Protože mnoho článků stále nabízí bezvýsledné závěry a jejich výsledky se liší v rámci zemí a skrz časové období, cílem mé práce je prozkoumat kapitálovou strukturu a determinanty kapitálové struktury v rámci Višegrádských zemí v období od 2002 do 2007. Hlavním přínosem této práce je prozkoumat data, která ještě nebyla před tím prozkoumána. Důvod, proč tomu tak je, může být obtížnost v získávání a zpracování dat. Již mnoho článků bylo napsáno o kapitálové struktuře, ale mnohé měly nedostatky. První výhodou mé práce je, že zkontroluji veškeré předpoklady mé analýzy. Znázorňuji, že heteroskedasticita a autokorelace jsou občas přítomny a snažím se je odstranit. Tímto se vyhnu zkresleným výsledkům. Další výhodou mého výzkumu je, že používám relativně velké množství vysvětlujících proměnných. Mnozí autoři záměrně vynechávají proměnné jako likvidita, růstové příležitosti nebo volatilitu tržeb (obchodní risk). Navíc používám tři druhy dluhů jako vysvětlované proměnné – celkový, dlouhodobý a krátkodobý, které nejsou také běžně používané. Dále používám dynamický vztah v zadluženosti, jelikož současná zadluženost může záviset na minulosti z důvodu setrvání nebo pouze částečnému přizpůsobení. Schopnost tohoto docílit je unikátní pro panelová data, která používám v této práci. Výsledkem je, že zadluženost má paměť a závisí na zadluženosti z minulých let. Hlavní závěry mohou být rozděleny do dvou skupin. Do první skupiny patří výsledky regrese z České republiky a Polska a druhé z Maďarska a Slovenska. Výsledky z první skupiny ukazují pozitivní vztah mezi zadlužeností českých a maďarských společností a tempem růstu společností a nedaňovým štítem, který je použit jako náhrada za daňový štít. Zatímco ziskovost, likvidita, struktura aktiv, obchodní riziko a velikost firmy je negativně korelována s dluhem. Tyto závěry podporují teorii hierarchického pořádku. Na druhou stranu, výsledky z Maďarska a Slovenska podporují trade-off teorii. V této druhé skupině struktura aktiv, ziskovost, velikost firmy je kladně korelována se zadlužeností, zatímco zbylé proměnné ukazují zápornou korelaci.

This master´s thesis assesses the situation of company VCES a.s. from the situation and financial analysis point of view. Depending on acquiring findings of both analysis are detected weaknesses in financial management and recommended measures leading to improvement of it´s current situation.

The thesis deals with the financial-economic analysis in the company of Tauer electro Inc. for using the selected analytic methods and indicators. The period under examination of the company relates to the years 2008 - 2012. Analysis of the data is got an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the company. Subsequently the identified weaknesses of the selected measures will be proposed in order to improve this situation in the company.

This thesis focuses on drawing up and evaluation of financial situation of company AB JET Ltd. from years 2008 – 2012. The first part consists of theoretical bases of financial analysis. The second part contains the application of essential methods to the analysis of financial situation of the company. On the basis of the analysis are found weaknesses for which are designed the recommendations. The recommendations should lead to improved financial health of the company.

El objetivo de la publicación es acercar los conceptos y técnicas que conforman las finanzas operativas a los lectores. El autor del libro explica, en seis capítulos, los aspectos básicos del análisis financiero, los ratios y medidas de creación de valor, el apalancamiento, la planeación financiera, la gestión y financiamiento del capital de trabajo. / The purpose of the publication is to show the operational finance’s concepts and techniques to the readers. The author explains, over six chapters, the basic aspects of financial analysis, ratios and measures of value creation, leverage, financial planning, management and working capital financing.