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This volume consists of four papers, which in principle could be read in any order. The common denominator is that they deal with contingent claims models of a firm's securities or related derivatives. A Framework for Valuing Corporate Securities Early applications of contingent claims analysis to the pricing of corporate liabilities tend to restrict themselves to situations where debt is perpetual or where financial distress can only occur at debt maturity. This paper relaxes these restrictions and provides an exposition of how most corporate liabilities can be valued as packages of two fundamental barrier contingent claims: a down-and-out call and a binary option. Furthermore, it is shown how the comparative statics of the resulting pricing formulae can be derived.A New Compound Option Pricing ModelThis paper extends the Geske (1979) compound option pricing model to the case where the security on which the option is written is a down-and-out call as opposed to a standard Black and Scholes call. Furthermore, we develop a general and flexible framework for valuing options on more complex packages of contingent claims - any claim that can be valued using the ideas in chapter 1. This allows us to study the interaction between the detailed characteristics of a firm's capital structure and the prices of for example stock options.Implementing Firm Value Based ModelsThis paper evaluates an implementation procedure for contingent claims models suggested by Duan (1994). Duan's idea is to use time series data of traded securities such as shares of common stock in order to estimate the dynamics of the firm's asset value. Furthermore, we provide an argument which allows us to relax the (common) assumption that the firm's assets may be continuously traded. It is sufficient to assume that the firm's assets are traded at one particular point in time.Asset Substitution, Debt Pricing, Optimal Leverage and MaturityChapters 1-3 have focused on the problem of pricing corporate securities.They have thus abstracted strategic aspects of corporate finance theory. This paper is an attempt to combine the contingent claims literature with the non-dynamic corporate finance literature. I allow the management of the firm to alter its investment policy strategically. This yields a model which allows us to examine the relationship between bond prices, agency costs, optimal leverage and maturity. / Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögsk.

Purpose - To analyze the relationship between supply chain management maturity, supply chain performance and financial performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SME:s). Design/methodology/approach - The data comprises 15 SME:s that participated in a local logistic study in Gävleborgs län. The levels of supply chain mature within these firms were based upon an interview study and the financial performance of the firms was then examined using financial reports-based data. Findings -The results of this study indicate that there is a strong relationship between SCM maturity and SC performance in SMEs, some relationships between SCM maturity and financial performance, as well as some relationships between SC performance and financial performance. This means that if firms use maturity indicators in the SCOR areas to improve their processes, they will most likely achieve a positive effect on supply chain performance and probably also on financial performance. The result implies that the supply chain maturities in these firms are higher than expected with no one at the adHoc level. While this study is based on a rather small number of participating firms, it would be valuable to further test the significance of the indicated correlations between SCM maturity and performance in a large-scale survey. Research limitations/Implications - The research is an attempt to understand supply chain maturity and it´s implication on financial performance. Developing supply chain maturity is an opportunity for a company to gain superior performance. The use of this approach has been validated in several previous research studies. The research limitation of this study is the small number of participating firms. Practical implication - Maturity models could be valuable frameworks for corporate management. This study provides statistical evidence that a SME firm that has achieved a higher maturity level in their supply chain management also can achieve higher SC performance and financial performance as well. The study further confirms the maturity model from Lockamy and McCormack (2004) as a very reliable tool for this purpose, even in extremely small firms. Originality/Value - This study is one of very few to focus on supply chain maturity of SME:s and analyze the linkage between financial performance and supply chain maturity in SME:s. This is particularly significant since earlier research implicate that SME:s has a very low maturity and in addition to that a high potential of improvements in this area. Maybe the findings of this study can be a starting point for these SME:s to take their maturity to a higher level and improve their financial performance. These findings might be valuable for further research in the linkage between maturity and superior performance in SME:s. Key words - Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Performance, Supply Chain Maturity, Financial Performance, Logistic Performance. Paper type - Thesis/research paper

Purpose - The goal of this research is to demonstrate that financial performance of current year is dependent to the amount of maturity of the supply chain processes. This aim is achieved through considering current supply chain process maturities of the firm together with financial performance of prior years.     Research question - How supply chain process maturities in relation to financial performance of prior years are related to current financial performance       Methodology - The deductive approach has been followed to use theories and literatures to build the hypothetical model in order to test it empirically. This quantitative research is benefited from the primary data of Swedish steel SMEs including the secondary data from financial ratios from Scandinavian financial database     Findings - The effect between supply chain process maturity and current year financial performance, the effect between prior year financial performance and current year financial performance, and also total effect of prior year financial performance and supply chain process maturity on current year financial performance proved empirically.

The purpose of this study is that, based on expertise in special education tutoring, examine the degree of supervision demanded by teachers in primary schools. As a result of this study, we can see the views teachers have regarding guidance within the following issues: the demand for tutoring, the importance of conversation and reflection, and guidance from the specialist teacher.Since the study deals with phenomena of a qualitative nature, we use semi-structured interviews in the empirical part of trying to understand the informants' way of looking at the phenomenon we are investigating. The study included interviews with six teachers in the elementary school year’s 1-3. The results show that there are more opportunities than obstacles to mentoring. To have someone to go to for advice and support is an important part of the guidance. While there is ambiguity about what the meaning of mentoring is believed to be and who it is for. Special educator's role as mentors in schools varies widely and there is no doubt that the special educator serves many functions and is there for those children who are in need of extra support. The importance of conversation and reflection is considered important, while the lack of time seems to be an obvious factor governing teachers' daily lives in a negative way.

This paper is a study of the noun phrase construction in L2 learner language and the base for the study are the tools for measuring syntactic maturity presented by Kellog W. Hunt (1966). Hunt and other scholars have used T-units, the smallest terminable unit in language, to analyze L2 learner language. This study however, analyzes the construction of the noun phrase instead of T-units. Although the focus differs there are many similarities between the method used in this study and in those analyzing T-units. This means that the study tries to create indexes which we can use as tools for measuring syntactic maturity and complexity among L2 learners, by measuring consolidation and postmodification. The outcome of the study shows that it is possible to measure consolidation of the noun phrase and that this figure may very well function as a tool for measuring language development. Furthermore this paper investigates opportunities for teachers to teach syntax and concludes that there are ways of improving L2 teaching by utilizing knowledge about L2 learner syntax.

The concrete maturity method can be utilized to determine in situ strength of concrete. It uses the temperature of concrete to determine a maturity index that can then be used to determine strength of concrete. However, monitoring the concrete temperature using thermocouples brings up a wiring issue, which is not advisable in an equipment and human intensive area like a construction site. One of the ways to get around this wiring issue is to use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, which is capable of transmitting information wirelessly. Previous research implemented using ultra high frequency RFID tags embedded in fresh concrete found that water could be the impediment for transmitting RFID signal from within concrete during early stages of curing. From literature it was found that lower the frequency, better the chances of the wave penetrating water. The objective of the research was to figure out whether the frequency of RFID tags has any relationship with the readability of RFID tags embedded in fresh concrete. For this investigation, low frequency, high frequency, and ultra high frequency RFID tags were tested within fresh concrete to see any difference between tags in terms of transmitting information. This experiment was carried out in a controlled space to reduce the number of variables affecting the experiment outcome. The low frequency, high frequency, and ultra high frequency RFID tags were placed within 2 in x 3 in x 2 in wooden formwork at a depth of 4 in, 8 in, and 12 in. Ready mix concrete was poured into the formwork and 3 concrete cubes were cast with the tags embedded within them. Readers that could be connected to a laptop were used to monitor and collect the time at which these RFID tags can be detected. The test showed that the RFID signals from the low frequency tags at all depths were detected as soon as concrete was poured. The Ultra High Frequency tags placed at the 4" level could be detected 15 minutes after concrete was poured. The UHF tags at the 8" level could be detected after 30 minutes. The UHF tags at the 12" level took on an average 2 hours to be detected from the vicinity of the formwork. The greater the depth at which the ultra high frequency tag was buried the longer it took for it to be detected. The high frequency tags could be detected only at the 4" level. The reason the performance of the HF card degraded in concrete could be because it uses an aluminum foil antenna which is more susceptible to the environment changing the relative permeability. A copper wire antenna could have fared better in this condition, increasing the chances of detecting the tag. Moreover a passive tag was used. The read range and chances of detection could have been increased had an active tag been used. The power of the reader that was used was also very less which might have contributed to the tag not being detected. Among the tags that were used in the experiment it was found that low frequency tags was the tag that could be detected the earliest after concrete was poured into the forms. However, the maximum read range of the tag observed in the experiment was 20" which is too small a distance to be used on an actual construction site.

Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI) developed by Software Engineering Institute of Carnegie Mellon University is aimed to improve the productivity of software development. From CMM to CMMI, they have been adopted worldwide. But the large numbers of unsuccessful and/or painful implementations have proved these implementations easier said than done. The software industry in Taiwan faces the challenge of global competition. Continuous improvement of productivity becomes inevitable. To achieve this goal, recently, government and non-government organizations together promote the CMMI. This thesis focuses on the Decision Analysis and Resolution of CMMI Level 3. Through the design of related methods and the development of software tools, the decision process can be more structured and more effective. Potential applications include evaluation and selection of software and hardware, outsourcing partner, tools, risk resolution alternatives or people. The typical Go/No-Go decision can also fit into it. The decision analysis methods included in this research are Multi-attribute Decision Making and Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP). In addition, alternative screening and group decision making can be integrated into the above methods.

Nowadays, almost all organizations use information technologies (IT) in some extent that they have gained many advantages from it. However, the wrong management of IT processes may cause big problems for organizations. It is first required to reach the quality to successfully govern IT and its processes. At this point, it is essential to have a quality maturity framework that organizations could use to follow a logical path in achieving quality. This thesis represents a study for determining the general quality requirements of a possible quality maturity framework for IT facilities in organizations. Many quality models, awards and frameworks will be discussed to determine those quality requirements and a possible leveling of the requirements will be also represented. Besides, a quality assessment survey will be performed in Turkish institutions regarding the quality requirements and the factors affecting them to determine the quality level of IT facilities in Turkish institutions.

The main purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between vocational maturity and hopelessness among female and male twelfth grade students. The sample of the present study was composed of 523 (341 female, 182 male) twelfth grade students attending four high schools in Ankara and in izmir. The data were gathered using the Vocational Maturity Scale, the Beck Hopelessness Scale and a demographic information form. The overall mean and standard deviation were 145.68 and 18.44 for vocational maturity scale / 5.41 and 5.18 for hopelessness scale of 523 twelfth grade students. It was found that there was a negatively significant correlation between the hopelessness and vocational maturity. Moreover, findings related to correlation between vocational maturity and hopelessness seperately in female and male students also indicated that there were negatively significant correlations between vocational maturity and hopelessness in females and males.