<p>The usage problem which occurs in the scheduling of mixed-model assembly processes operating under Just-In-Time (JIT) methods is examined. A minimax objective function, which has not been considered previously for use with mixed-model JIT systems, is introduced to control these processes. A general integer programming model of the problem is developed with the goal being to determine optimal sequencing methods for various formulations of this model. It is shown that the single-level, unweighted version of the model can be solved to optimum using an algorithm which is polynomial in the total product demand. A graph theoretic representation of the problem permits the calculation of bounds on the objective value. Of particular significance is the upper bound which demonstrates that a feasible sequence always exists for each copy of every product in which the actual level of production never deviates from the ideal level by more than 1 unit. Symmetries within the problem are shown to exist which substantially reduce the computational effort. Extensions to weighted single-level problems are made. A dynamic programming (DP) algorithm is presented for optimizing the multi-level problem formulations. The time and space requirements of this DP are demonstrated. Tests of the DP's performance capabilities, characteristics and limitations are performed. As the growth of the DP's state space could severely restrict the problem size if all of the states are generated, a necessary screening method, employing simple heuristics, is used. The results of the testing indicate that the size of the problems which can be optimized is constrained by the solution time. Conversely, the size of the problems that could be optimized never became constrained by the storage requirements since the simple heuristics acted as highly efficient screening mechanisms. The experimentation also uncovered certain inherent solution characteristics.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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This study examines whether the disclosure of private target firms' financial statements disciplines acquiring firms' managers to make better acquisition-investment decisions. The SEC requires public acquiring firms to disclose audited financial statements of targets that meet certain disclosure thresholds. Using hand-collected data, I first document that private targets' financial statements provide value relevant information to market participants. Next, consistent with my predictions, I find that the disclosure of private targets' financial statements is associated with higher acquirer announcement returns, better post-acquisition performance, and lower likelihood of post-acquisition divestitures. Finally, I find the disciplining effect of this disclosure requirement is more pronounced when monitoring by outside capital providers is more costly. In sum, the evidence suggests that the disclosure of private targets' accounting information is informative to market participants, disciplines managers' acquisition decisions, and improves acquisition efficiency.

The development of technology has made the world a smaller place where communicating instantaneously irrespective of the geographical location is a way of life. Electronic Forms (E-FORMS) are an easy way to communicate efficiently with students. At present, universities are still using old systems for communication where efforts to improve the system is a lethargic process. As most of these universities are still using student forms manually, the introduction of E-FORMS will speed up the whole process and positively impact in communicating efficiency. In addition, the inconvenience of making numerous visits to the university is sometimes seen as a hassle but due to lack of Information Technology (IT) development in universities, this is the usual pattern still seen at most universities. In this study, the use of E-FORMS at universities is proposed to help students and university staff to communicate effectively and efficiently. As it is still a fairly new concept, the study proposes the many features involved in E-FORMS communication. The Researcher has chosen California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) to do this study. This study consists of the detailed design of the proposed E-FORMS Application System at CSUSB. The design provides a more efficient and supportive system that is easy to use while maintaining student privacy and flexibility. The solution is designed taking into consideration the use of PeopleSoft Enterprise. This proposed system upgrades the existing CSUSB form management system. It is a step forward to a more efficient and the operative system.

This thesis consists of three chapters. The first chapter is sole-authored and is titled `Cross-border merger waves.' The second chapter is coauthored work with Professor David Mauer and Kyeong Hun Lee and is titled `Human capital relatedness and corporate mergers and acquisitions.' The third chapter is coauthored work with Professor Amrita Nain and Kyeong Hun Lee and is titled `Repetitive cross-border mergers and acquisitions.' First chapter examines the valuation effects of cross-border merger and acquisition (M&A) waves that occurred during 1990 and 2010. I document that, like domestic mergers, cross-border mergers cluster by industry and time. Cross-border M&A waves create value overall: acquirer announcement returns as well as combined acquirer and target announcement returns within waves are positive and significantly higher than those outside of waves. Post-merger operating performance is also better for within-wave cross-border deals. In stark contrast to domestic merger waves, deals undertaken later in cross-border merger waves tend to outperform those earlier in waves within a given industry. The late entrant's outperformance is stronger if the target country is different from the acquirer country in terms of culture, financial development, and legal system. Firms' acquisition decisions in cross-border merger waves depend on the stock market reaction to recent deals undertaken by industry peers in the same country. Overall, my results suggest that cross-border acquisitions promote efficient redeployment of corporate assets. Further, information asymmetry stemming from differences between acquirer and target countries plays an important role in the timing and performance of reallocation of corporate assets across national borders. Second chapter studies the effects of human capital relatedness on the likelihood of a merger pairing and on the valuation consequences of deals. Using comprehensive and unique occupation data, we propose a novel measure to quantify the relatedness of firms' human capital. We find that a firm is more likely to acquire a target with related human capital. Mergers between firms closely related in terms of human capital achieve greater synergies. The results are robust to other pairwise relatedness measures that may affect merger likelihood and synergy, such as product market synergies. Overall, the evidence suggests that human capital relatedness is an important factor in mergers and acquisitions. Third chapter examines repetitive deals in the same target country. We find that as acquirers repeat cross-border deals in the same country, (i) the time between successive deals declines, (ii) the percentage of ownership stake acquired increases, and (iii) the percentage of consideration paid in cash increases. To further distinguish whether such patterns are consistent with learning or hubris, we examine repetitive cross-border deals at two different stages of learning: experience-building versus memory-loss periods (as in Hayward (2002)). We find that as the acquirer makes more deals in the country, the time between deals decreases and the abnormal announcement return increases in experience-building periods, whereas such patterns do not exist or are reversed in memory-loss periods. Our results suggest that firms gain by learning as they repeat acquisitions in the same country.

Existing linear asset pricing models do not fully explain the abnormal profits associated with prior-return portfolios. In addition, existing nonlinear consumption-based models produce implausible risk aversion coefficient values when applied to priorreturn portfolios. Measures based upon production instead of consumption reduce residual errors and drive risk aversion coefficients towards plausible values. Augmenting the existing models with a new production-based marginal utility growth proxy, supplemented by a production-based consumption proxy not previously applied to price prior-return portfolios, can explain the abnormal profits associated with prior-return portfolios and yield plausible risk aversion coefficient values.

Global business executives and researchers recently highlight the importance of understanding the dynamics of supply chain process integration in a global context. The literature still lacks studies that provide a comprehensive understanding of the major antecedents and consequences of supply chain process integration from a global perspective. This dissertation builds on several theoretical foundations such as the resource based view (RBV), the relational view (RV) of the firm and transaction cost analysis (TCA) to develop a framework that explains the drivers and outcomes of global supply chain process integration. This global study responds to these challenges through exploring the antecedents and consequences of global supply chain process integration for 320 supply chain and purchasing managers that source from over 33 countries. A theoretical framework is proposed that builds on research in strategic management, supply chain management, and international business and tests 8 proposed hypotheses. One new construct – global supply chain process integration – is developed and tested. Another construct, logistics performance, is modified from its existing form in the current literature. Significant results and good fit indices tested with structural equation modeling generate a number of interesting implications for global supply chain managers and researchers. For executives and strategists who are concerned about better managing their supply chains, this study provides insights for how manufacturing firms can develop a competitive edge through a higher level of flexibility by integrating its supply chain processes with its global suppliers. The study also provides empirical evidence on how supplier flexibility in a global environment can lead to improvements in process and firm performance.

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