This study provides a view of the decision-making process of Dutch company pension funds. The success of this research was the exceptional granting of access to four cases. Lack of such access could very well be the reason why research of this nature has not been previously achieved. The financial health of pension funds, expressed by the coverage ratio, showed a decline in 2008. Research has shown that there is a relationship between decision-making processes and outcome. Were the processes appropriate to set up and maintain a sufficient coverage ratio? A tailor-made conceptual research model has been developed and used as an analysis aid to research the TO BE situation based on legal requirements and factional documents and the AS IS situation based on empirical data. The model made it feasible to shed light on the implementation of good pension fund governance principles and decision-making process, which is a contribution to the current gap in research. The research showed that there is a relationship between the implementation of pension fund governance principles and appropriate decision-making processes. It also showed that there is a relationship between an appropriate decision-making process and coverage ratio. Both conclusions are not statistically proven due to the lack of the statistical significance, but are qualitative analysed and confirmed in the conducted case studies. It is suggested to use the research model by supervisor or pension funds to establish the mismatch between the implementation of pension fund governance principles and decision-making processes to enhance the quality of decision-making processes and outcome.

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Tesis por compendio / Water is an essential resource from an environmental, biological, economic or social point of view. In basin management, the irregular distribution in time and in space of this resource is well known. This issue is worsened by extreme climate conditions, generating drought periods or flood events. For both situations, optimal management is necessary. In one case, different water uses should be supplied efficiently using the available surface and groundwater resources. In another case, the most important goal is to avoid damages in flood areas, including the loss of human lives, but also to optimize the revenue of energy production in hydropower plants, or in other uses. The approach presented in this thesis proposes to obtain optimal management rules in water resource systems. With this aim, evolutionary algorithms were combined with simulation models. The first ones, as optimization tools, are responsible for guiding the process iterations. In each iteration, a new management rule is defined in the simulation model, which is computed to comprehend the situation of the system after applying this new management. For testing the proposed methodology, four evolutionary algorithms were assessed combining them with two simulation models. The methodology was implemented in four real case studies. This thesis is presented as a compendium of five manuscripts: three scientific papers published in journals (which are indexed in the Journal Citation Report), another under review, and the last manuscript from Conference Proceedings. In the first manuscript, the Pikaia optimization algorithm was combined with the network flow SIMGES simulation model for obtaining four different types of optimal management rules in the Júcar River Basin. In addition, the parameters of the Pikaia algorithm were also analyzed to identify the best combination of them to use in the optimization process. In the second scientific paper, the multi-objective NSGA-II algorithm was assessed to obtain a parametric management rule in the Mijares River basin. In this case, the same simulation model was linked with the evolutionary algorithm. In the Conference manuscript, an in-depth analysis of the Tirso-Flumendosa-Campidano (TFM) system using different scenarios and comparing three water simulation models for water resources management was developed. The third published manuscript presented the assessment and comparison of two evolutionary algorithms for obtaining optimal rules in the TFM system using SIMGES model. The algorithms assessed were the SCE-UA and the Scatter Search. In this research paper, the parameters of both algorithms were also analyzed as it was done with the Pikaia algorithm. The management rules in the three first manuscripts were focused to avoid or minimize deficits in urban and agrarian demands and, in some case studies, also to minimize the water pumped. Finally, in the last document, two of the algorithms used in previous manuscripts were assessed, the mono-objective SCE-UA and the multi-objective NSGA-II. For this research, the algorithms were combined with RS MINERVE software to manage flood events in Visp River basin minimizing damages in risk areas and losses in hydropower plants. Results reached in the five manuscripts demonstrate the validity of the approach. In all the case studies and with the different evolutionary algorithms assessed, the obtained management rules achieved a better system management than the base scenario of each case. These results usually mean a decrease of the economic costs in the management of water resources. However, comparing the four algorithms assessed, SCE-UA algorithm proved to be the most efficient due to the different stop/convergence criteria and its formulation. Nevertheless, NSGA-II is the most recommended due to its multi-objective search focus on the enhancement of different objectives with the same importance where the decision makers can make the best decision for the management of the system. / El agua es un recurso esencial desde el punto de vista ambiental, biológico, económico o social. En la gestión de cuencas, es bien conocido que la distribución del recurso en el tiempo y el espacio es irregular. Este problema se agrava debido a condiciones climáticas extremas, generando períodos de sequía o inundaciones. Para ambas situaciones, una gestión óptima es necesaria. En un caso, el suministro de agua a los diferentes usos del sistema debe realizarte eficientemente empleando los recursos disponibles, tanto superficiales como subterráneos. En el otro caso, el objetivo más importante es evitar daños en las zonas de inundación, incluyendo la pérdida de vidas humanas, pero al mismo tiempo, optimizar los beneficios de centrales hidroeléctricas, o de otros usos. El enfoque presentado en esta tesis propone la obtención de reglas de gestión óptimas en sistemas reales de recursos hídricos. Con este objetivo, se combinaron algoritmos evolutivos con modelos de simulación. Los primeros, como herramientas de optimización, encargados de guiar las iteraciones del proceso. En cada iteración se define una nueva regla de gestión en el modelo de simulación, que se evalúa para conocer la situación del sistema después de aplicar esta nueva gestión. Para probar la metodología propuesta, se evaluaron cuatro algoritmos evolutivos combinándolos con dos modelos de simulación. La metodología se implementó en cuatro casos de estudio reales. Esta tesis se presenta como un compendio de cinco publicaciones: tres de ellas en revistas indexadas en el Journal Citation Report, otra en revisión y la última como publicación de un congreso. En el primer manuscrito, el algoritmo de optimización Pikaia se combinó con el modelo de simulación SIMGES para obtener reglas de gestión óptimas en la cuenca del río Júcar. Además, se analizaron los parámetros del algoritmo para identificar la mejor combinación de los mismos en el proceso de optimización. El segundo artículo evaluó el algoritmo multi-objetivo NSGA-II para obtener una regla de gestión paramétrica en la cuenca del río Mijares. En el trabajo presentado en el congreso se desarrolló un análisis en profundidad del sistema Tirso-Flumendosa-Campidano utilizando diferentes escenarios y comparando tres modelos de simulación para la gestión de los recursos hídricos. En el tercer manuscrito publicado se evaluó y comparó dos algoritmos evolutivos (SCE-UA y Scatter Search) para obtener reglas de gestión óptimas en el sistema Tirso-Flumendosa-Campidano. En dicha investigación también se analizaron los parámetros de ambos algoritmos. Las reglas de gestión de estas cuatro publicaciones se enfocaron en evitar o minimizar los déficits de las demandas urbanas y agrarias y, en ciertos casos, también en minimizar el caudal bombeado, utilizando para ello el modelo de simulación SIMGES. Finalmente, en la última publicación se evaluó el algoritmo mono-objetivo SCE-UA y el multi-objetivo NSGA-II. Para esta investigación, los algoritmos se combinaron con el software RS MINERVE para gestionar los eventos de inundación en la cuenca del río Visp minimizando los daños en las zonas de riesgo y las pérdidas en las centrales hidroeléctricas. Los resultados obtenidos en las cinco publicaciones demuestran la validez del enfoque. En todos los casos de estudio y, con los diferentes algoritmos evolutivos evaluados, las reglas de gestión obtenidas lograron una mejor gestión del sistema que el escenario base de cada caso. Estos resultados suelen representar una disminución de los costes económicos en la gestión de los recursos hídricos. Comparando los cuatro algoritmos, el SCE-UA demostró ser el más eficiente debido a los diferentes criterios de convergencia. No obstante, el NSGA-II es el más recomendado debido a su búsqueda multi-objetivo enfocada en la mejora, con la misma importancia, de diferentes objetivos, donde los tomadores de decisiones pueden sel / L'aigua és un recurs essencial des del punt de vista ambiental, biològic, econòmic o social. En la gestió de conques, és ben conegut que la distribució del recurs en el temps i l'espai és irregular. Este problema s'agreuja a causa de condicions climàtiques extremes, generant períodes de sequera o inundacions. Per a ambdúes situacions, una gestió òptima és necessària. En un cas, el subministrament d'aigua als diferents usos del sistema ha de realitzar-se eficientment utilitzant els recursos disponibles, tant superficials com subterranis. En l'altre cas, l'objectiu més important és evitar danys en les zones d'inundació, incloent la pèrdua de vides humanes, però al mateix temps, optimitzar els beneficis de centrals hidroelèctriques, o d'altres usos. La proposta d'esta tesi és l'obtenció de regles de gestió òptimes en sistemes reals de recursos hídrics. Amb este objectiu, es van combinar algoritmes evolutius amb models de simulació. Els primers, com a ferramentes d'optimització, encarregats de guiar les iteracions del procés. En cada iteració es definix una nova regla de gestió en el model de simulació, que s'avalua per a conéixer la situació del sistema després d'aplicar esta nova gestió. Per a provar la metodologia proposada, es van avaluar quatre algoritmes evolutius combinant-los amb dos models de simulació. La metodologia es va implementar en quatre casos d'estudi reals. Esta tesi es presenta com un compendi de cinc publicacions: tres d'elles en revistes indexades en el Journal Citation Report, una altra en revisió i l'última com a publicació d'un congrés. En el primer manuscrit, l'algoritme d'optimització Pikaia es va combinar amb el model de simulació SIMGES per a obtindre regles de gestió òptimes en la conca del riu Xúquer. A més, es van analitzar els paràmetres de l'algoritme per a identificar la millor combinació dels mateixos en el procés d'optimització. El segon article va avaluar l'algoritme multi-objectiu NSGA-II per a obtindre una regla de gestió paramètrica en la conca del riu Millars. En el treball presentat en el congrés es va desenvolupar una anàlisi en profunditat del sistema Tirso-Flumendosa-Campidano utilitzant diferents escenaris i comparant tres models de simulació per a la gestió dels recursos hídrics. En el tercer manuscrit publicat es va avaluar i va comparar dos algoritmes evolutius (SCE-UA i Scatter Search) per a obtindre regles de gestió òptimes en el sistema Tirso-Flumendosa-Campidano. En dita investigació també es van analitzar els paràmetres d'ambdós algoritmes. Les regles de gestió d'estes quatre publicacions es van enfocar a evitar o minimitzar els dèficits de les demandes urbanes i agràries i, en certs casos, també a minimitzar el cabal bombejat, utilitzant per a això el model de simulació SIMGES. Finalment, en l'última publicació es va avaluar l'algoritme mono-objectiu SCE-UA i el multi-objetiu NSGA-II. Per a esta investigació, els algoritmes es van combinar amb el programa RS MINERVE per a gestionar els esdeveniments d'inundació en la conca del riu Visp minimitzant els danys en les zones de risc i les pèrdues en les centrals hidroelèctriques. Els resultats obtinguts en les cinc publicacions demostren la validesa de la metodología. En tots els casos d'estudi i, amb els diferents algoritmes evolutius avaluats, les regles de gestió obtingudes van aconseguir una millor gestió del sistema que l'escenari base de cada cas. Estos resultats solen representar una disminució dels costos econòmics en la gestió dels recursos hídrics. Comparant els quatre algoritmes, el SCE-UA va demostrar ser el més eficient a causa dels diferents criteris de convergència. No obstant això, el NSGA-II és el més recomanat a causa de la seua cerca multi-objectiu enfocada en la millora, amb la mateixa importància, de diferents objectius, on els decisors poden seleccionar la millor opció per a la gestió del sistema. / Lerma Elvira, N. (2017). Assessment and implementation of evolutionary algorithms for optimal management rules design in water resources systems [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/90547 / Compendio

Yes / The article discusses how nurses are increasingly being valued as autonomous decision makers and co-ordinators of patient care. Topics include relating to the age of the dependent children, a woman's working hours and any successive career breaks, woman's career progression directly related to the school age of the dependent children, and children being inhibit and is driven in part by a determination to maintain traditional employment practices.

Abstract: Interpersonal skills such as perception are an important topic within sustainability discourse. Additionally, businesses play a key role in the sustainable transition the world is currently undergoing. Through this study, we aimed to investigate how business leaders and decision makers perceive the sustainability performance of the firms they work for and explore how these perceptions align with real-world circumstances. In doing so, we will discover how such interpersonal skills are being utilised within a business context. 'The study was developed using theories such as inner development skills, the Dunning-Kruger effect and Brandlogic’s sustainability IQ Matrix. We followed an inductive interpretivistmethodology to gather qualitative data through a series of interviews. The findings show thatperceptions and their accuracy are quite varied, though participants who reported higher levels of communication from their firm often had more positive perceptions. Furthermore, despite the Dunning-Kruger effect suggesting that education would have an impact on accuracy, we did not find this to be the case, rather participants who demonstrated usage of a variety of inner development skills tended to be more accurate. These findings suggest businesses who wish to improve the perception of their firm should focus on how they communicate their efforts, and those seeking to improve accuracy should focus on development of inner development skills.

THE STIGLER-LUCKOCK MODEL FOR A LIMIT ORDER BOOK Abstract One of the types of modern-day markets are so-called order-driven markets whose core component is a database of all incoming buy and sell orders (order book). The main goal of this thesis is to extend the Stigler-Luckock model for order books to give a better insight into the price forming process and behaviour of the market participants themselves. The model introduced in this thesis focuses on a comparison of behaviour and various strategies of market makers who are sophisticated market participants profiting from extensive trading. The market is described using Markov chains, and the strategies are compared using Monte Carlo simulations and game theory. The results showed that market makers' orders should have small spread and large volumes. The final model compares two strategies in which market makers monitor their portfolio. In case of having more cash than asset (or vice versa), they shift prices of their orders to equalise the portfolio. The model recommends checking the market quite often, but acting conservatively, which means not changing prices that frequently and not jumping to conclusions just from a small imbalance in the portfolio.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Nursing))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Background E-mail marketing is used to get consumers’ attention to one’s products, services, need, etc., and ultimately to get them to act in a specific way. How consumers are affected by E-mail marketing is a topic that has not been thoroughly investigated even though it is of great interest due to the vast increase of E-mail marketing the last couple of years. Thus, there is a major gap in the research of this topic, especially in a B2B context. Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to analyze behaviors and attitudes of decision-makers in the Swedish manufacturing industry regarding B2B E-mail marketing. Method The authors used a quantitative research approach with an online-survey in order to collect necessary data. The population is decision-makers within the manufacturing industry in Sweden. The result is based on 1 777 participating decision-makers. The questionnaire was constructed by the authors and is based on the theoretical framework consisting: Tri-Component Model of Attitudes, Planned Behavior, Micheaux’s (2011) theory of perceived pressure and A(ad). The authors used analysis techniques such as descriptive univariate analysis, Anova-test, factor analysis and linear regression analysis to derive the result. Conclusion The conclusions drawn from this study are that the decision-makers within the manufacturing industry in Sweden tend to have a negative attitude and behavior toward E-mail marketing messages, only a small minority of the decision-makers had a positive attitude. Furthermore, the authors discovered an association between their attitude and how they actually behave. The study also reveals differences in the attitudes and behaviors regarding age and position within the company. A final conclusion drawn from this study is that the decision-makers do not read all marketing messages they receive and they also delete some marketing messages without reading them. The result of this is a non-functional marketing method, as it does not work as it is intended. A suggestion for marketers working with E-mail marketing is to try to establish more positive attitudes by building relationships with the recipients.

Solar cell production has served as the most important link in solar photovoltaic¡]PV¡^ supply chain from upstream silicon raw material and wafer supply to downstream module and system installation. The PV industry enjoyed a miraculously rapid growth in recent years with Taiwan ranking No. 4 in global solar cell production in 2008. However, in the wake of the financial storm, the industry has gone through some unprecedented changes in the market due to the severe global demand shrinkage. Looking ahead, challenges also lie in product assimilation and profit erosion. Difficulty will increase with market concentration and global operation; while the low yield of capital investment in R & D in the new industry adds on the pressure, too. This thesis proposes a four-step global development strategy for Taiwan solar cell industry after a SWOT analysis. Producers are advised to exert current strengths in developing tolling business in the short term for elevating uptime and capacity, while, in the long run, they should coordinate more efforts in brand-building and innovation for differentiation. Efforts should also be persisted to strengthen linkage within the supply chain and to extend ties with the government, end market, or other industries to create better synergy. Meanwhile, the government is expected to provide incentives for strategic research, to assist in cross-business alliance with Taiwan leading IT technologies and to bridge between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits for enhanced cooperation in solar PV industry, to ensure Taiwan¡¦s firm grip in the rising industry of global alternative energy.