The traveling salesman problem (TSP) is defined as: given a finite number of cities along with the cost of travel between each pair of them, find the cheapest way of visiting all the cities only once and returning to your starting city. Some variants of TSP are proposed to visit cities depending on the profit gained when the visit occurs. In literature, these kind of problems are named TSP with profit. In TSP with profit, there are two conflicting objectives, one to collect profit and the other to decrease traveling cost. In literature, TSP with profit are addressed as single objective, either two objectives are combined linearly or one objective is constrained with a specified bound. In this study, a multiobjective approach is developed by combining &amp / #949 / -constrained method and heuristics from the literature in order to find the efficient frontier for the TSP with profit. The performance of approach is tested on the problems studied in the literature. Also an interactive software is developed based on the multiobjective approach.

This study is to investigate the relationship among profit sharing, sharing fairness, job involvement and working performance by the empirical research. The goal of this study is to suggest the company how to design more incentive system from the profit sharing and sharing fairness when the profit sharing will become the operation expense in Taiwan. 500 questionnaires were sent to the company which is based on the north of Hsin-Chu County. The valid questionnaires are 174 copies in total after the return. Upon the empirical analysis, the important findings are as the following: 1.Profit sharing system and sharing fairness are positive correlated. The more the employees are satisfied with the profit sharing system and feel the importance of the profit sharing system, the higher their awareness is on the fairness of the profit distribution and execution procedure. 2.Profit sharing system is not significant to job involvement and working performance. When the time goes by, the incentive effect from the profit sharing system will decrease. Therefore, the effect of profit sharing system is not significt to job involvement and working performance. 3.Sharing fairness is not significant to job involvement, but significant to the goal achievement of working performance and collaboration¡¦s satisfaction. If the employee doesn¡¦t understand the profit sharing system, it easily causes the unfair feeling and it might impact on the job involvement. But if the company can emphasize the fairness of the execution procedure, it can increase the possibility of the goal achievement and enhance the collaboration¡¦s satisfaction. 4.Profit sharing system can¡¦t affect the working performance and job involvement by the intermediate effect of sharing fairness. Since the profit sharing system has been implemented for a while and became part of salary, it can¡¦t draw more attraction as the beginning. In addition, if the employee starts to suspect the fairness of the profit sharing, it will result in the less influence on job involvement and working performance.

This paper seeks to develop a framework for the successful implementation of energy retrofit projects in all settings, including those with the non-traditional structure and unique needs of some non-profit organizations. This will be accomplished using researched strategies for overcoming commonly associated challenges along with experiences gained through a real-life case study involving a multi-facility retrofit project in Atlanta's largest public park, Chastain Park. The framework includes the application of research based solutions for common challenges as well as specific strategies for the translation of collected data into an actual scope of work, methods for the collection of bids and selection of contractor(s), the importance of and methods for communicating amongst stakeholders, and the need for a dedicated project manager on site at all times.

<p><p>The focus of this study is to evaluate the impact of corporate ownership structure on the overall performance of stock exchanges. This study distinguishes in particular mutual versus demutualized ownership. London Stock Exchange and Hong Kong Stock Exchange are chosen as study cases, because London Stock Exchange is one of the world leading stock exchanges and Hong Kong Stock Exchange is definitely one of the most important emerging market stock exchanges. That is why the results obtained by comparing these two stock exchanges could serve as good indicator in understanding the effects of demutualization process on the whole stock exchange sector and retain the subtle differences in micro-behavior of the stock exchanges undergone the same transformation.</p><p>In this paper the simple descriptive statistics is used as the method of analysis, in association to a profound review of the literature in this area. The data illuminate the fact that demutualized stock exchanges hold a stronger operating performance and a better performance in term of shareholder’s return than mutual exchanges. The result is generally in line with the basic theories in the area of corporate governance and empirical studies in this specific area like Aggarwal (2006), Mendiola and O’Hara (2003) and Hart and Moore (1996).</p></p>

<p>Background:</p><p>Studying insider trading is difficult due to its sensitive and delicate nature. Therefore it is hard to gauge the extent of such activities. This problem has resulted in a fierce debate whether it should be prohibited or not. Using a method where the effect on monopolistic information usage can be isolated insider trading can be monitored. Such an event is a profit warning.</p><p>Purpose:</p><p>This paper examines whether insider trading exist for companies</p><p>making a profit warning between year 2003 and 2007 on the Stockholm</p><p>Stock Exchange. Furthermore the aim with the study is to contribute</p><p>to the debate on the insider trading legislation.</p><p>Method:</p><p>The study’s purpose is achieved through an event study studying the</p><p>cumulative abnormal return as well as average daily returns during</p><p>the thirty days preceding the warning for a sample of thirty companies.</p><p>Since profit warnings should be completely random and as such</p><p>almost impossible for the market to know in advance, a significant</p><p>abnormal return can only be explained with insider trading. The abnormal returns were calculated using the Capital Asset Pricing Model</p><p>since it is the most widely used model.</p><p>Conclusion:</p><p>For the chosen time frame, when testing on a 95% significance level,</p><p>the study found a significant abnormal return during the last 10 days</p><p>of the event window but not for the entire period of thirty days. The</p><p>daily average return for the thirty companies were significant for six</p><p>of the thirty days within the event window. Two of them were included</p><p>in the last ten day period with a confirmed significant abnormal</p><p>return which might suggest that on average insider trading tend</p><p>to occur during these days. The other four was discarded due to</p><p>sample issues. Since the study was limited to a period of four years</p><p>extending the results to a period other than tested should be made</p><p>with great care since conditions may differ over time. Concerning the</p><p>current debate on the insider legislation, the findings can be used by</p><p>both sides. Either to argue for a strengthening of the law or to question its existence.</p>

<p>The purpose of this master’s thesis is to explain and analyze whether today’s existing regulations provide sufficient guidance on how to apply the Profit Split Method (PSM) in practice. Since the enterprises’ profits arising from intra-group transactions increases, the tax base for any government also becomes larger and more important. This issue will likely become even more problematic as the globalization branches out and the majority of the global trade is undertaken between associated enterprises.</p><p>In order to satisfy all parts and serve the dual objective of securing an appropriate tax base in each jurisdiction and avoiding double taxation, one ambition of the OECD is to harmonize the transfer pricing rules and make them become more uniform. An area in which this goal can be accomplish is at an international level such as the OECD; an important developer in the field of transfer pricing. Different transfer pricing methods has been developed which can be applied by both taxpayers and tax authorities to determine a correct transfer price. Six of these methods has gained international acceptance, although to a more or less extent among various countries, and one of these methods is the PSM. In the years between 1979 and 1995, the OECD had a reluctant standpoint of accepting the application of any transfer pricing method based on profits, such as the PSM. This hesitant viewpoint changed in the existing TPG which explicitly stipulates that the PSM could provide a transfer pricing estimation in accordance with the ALP, which should be accepted in exceptional cases.</p><p>There are certain situations where a PSM possibly will provide the most appropriate arm’s length result. Since the principle of economics can create complex business environments of both vertical and horizontal integration, contributions of valuable intangibles on both sides of the cross-border transaction, the PSM might be the only method which can be employed. A relevant issue which need to be enlightened is whether the existing guidance provided by the OECD and USA is sufficient from a practitioners and tax administration point of view, or is more guidance needed to better understand the issues surrounding the concept of the PSM. The fact that OECD insist of using comparables to the highest extent as possible when employing the PSM entails practical problems, since it is rather a rule than an exception that reliable comparables cannot be found when valuable intangibles are involved.</p><p>The Arthur of this master’s thesis has identified three key conclusions which might facilitate how PSM issues can be handled in the future and improve the existing PSM guidance. These conclusions are the need for a uniform PSM interpretation, the need for additional flexibility and acceptance, and the need for additional TPG guidance.</p>

<p>Syftet är att beskriva hur en svensk ideell förening mäter och redovisar effektivitet samt vilka effekter det har på verksamheten. I och med att ideella föreningar till skillnad från företag inte har ett vinstdrivande syfte så kan således inte effektivitet mätas på samma sätt som i den privata sektorn. I denna uppsats studeras ett fall, en kristen församling, för att få en inblick i hur en ideell förening mäter effektivitet och redovisar den.</p><p>Denna uppsats utförs genom en fallstudie av både kvalitativ och kvantitativ karraktär. Författarna har besökt församlingen och genomfört en enkätundersökning av medlemmarna och deras attityder kring effektivitet och hur den redovisas till medlemmarna. Vidare har författarna intervjuat styrelsemedlemmar för att få en djupare inblick i ämnet.</p><p>Vad som skiljer ideella föreningar från vinstdrivande organisationer är att de har ett icke-ekonomiskt syfte och att de bedrivs mestadels på frivillig basis. En ideell förening är beroende av bidrag från medlemmar och kommun. Normer och praxis inom redovisning är utarbetad utifrån den privata sektorn och präglas då av ett vinstdrivande syfte och finansiella mått. För den ideella sektorn lämpar sig ickefinanseella mått i form av måluppfyllelse bättre. I och med att ideella föreningar inte har en egen lagstiftning så påverkas redovisningens utformning också av ett vinstdrivande perspektiv.</p><p>Den effektivitet som församlingen mäter och redovisar i sin årsredovisning är statistik på antalet medlemmar och deltagare i församlingens olika verksamheter. Däremot redovisas effektivitet i form av målsättning snarare verbalt på församlingsmöten. Genom synen på redovisning som ett informationssystem är verbal kommunikation också en form av redovisning. Icke finansiella mått är viktigast för församlingen, anser styrelsemedlemmarna, för att de kan påverka medlemmarna till att engagera sig mer i verksamheten.</p><p>Finansiella mått kan församlingen också ha användning för så länge redovisningen av dem genomförs på ett sätt så medlemmarna kan ta till sig den informationen. Om redovisningen genomförs så att medlemmarna förstår informationen kan den få en positiv effekt på verksamheten för att den kan motivera medlemmarna att engagera sig mer. Studien har lett till en modell som visar hur effektivitets-redovisningen kan påverka en förening positivt. Genom att sätta upp mätbara delmål både för styrelsen och för medlemmarna kan motivationen ökas och mer resurser bli tillgängliga för verksamheten. Med fler motiverade medlemmar och mer resurser kan församlingen nå sina mål och öka effetkiviteten. Utvärdering av de uppnådda målen och redovisning av resultaten ska inspirera medlemmarna till att sätta nya mål och en enighet bland medlemmarna att sträva efter att uppnå de nya målen.</p> / <p>The purpose with this thesis is to describe how a non-profit association measures and presents efficiency and its effects on the organization. Non-profit organizations cannot measure efficiency in the same way as profit-driven organizations since they do not have a financial purpose. In this thesis a christian congregation is studied to attain a deeper insight in how non-profit organizations measures and presents efficiency.</p><p>This thesis is conducted through a case study of both qualitatative and quantitatative character. The authors have visited the congregation in question and made a questionnaire among the members about their attitudes towards efficiency and how it is presented to them. The authors have also interviewed four members of the board to get a deeper insight in the subject.</p><p>What distinguishes non-profit organizations from profit-driven ones is that they have a non-financial purpose. And also that they mostly are operated on a voluntary basis. A non-profit organization is depending on subsidies from members and the municipality. Norms within accounting are designed from a profit-driven view and is mostly focusing on financial measures. For the non-profit sector measures of non financial character is more appropriate to use. The accounting within non-profit organizations are heavily affected by a profit-driven perspective since they do not have an exclusive legislation.</p><p>The efficiency that the congregation measures and presents in their annual report is statistics of members and participants in their activities. However they do present efficiency in sense of objectives verbally through their meetings. Verbal communication can from a informationsystem kind of view be considered as a way of accounting. Non financial measures is the most important ones for the congregation since it can make the members become more engaged in the activities. If the accounting is created in a way that the members can relate to, it may have a positive and motivative effect on the organisation.</p><p>The study resulted in a model that shows the positive effects of presenting efficiency in an organization. By introducing measureable goals more members will become engaged and more resources will be available in the organization. Through this the congregation more easily can reach its goals. Evaluation of reached goals will inspire the members to set up new ones and to become more united.</p>

<p>Research Questions: Following questions will be looked at from a management perspective in the researched elite hockey clubs: (1) How has the commercialization affected the areas of responsibility? In regards to areas of responsibility: (a) How has the commercialization affected the decision making? (b) How has the commercialization affected the information and communication? (c) How has the commercialization affected the motivation? In addition, we need to find out the overall structure of the clubs and the managers’ view on commercialization in non-profit organizations. Therefore we need to add two more research questions: (2) In what respect is the organizational structure experienced in a different way today? and (3) How has the commercialization changed Swedish hockey clubs?</p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to create an understanding about how managers in Swedish elite hockey clubs experience the assumed adjustments in organizational structure and areas of responsibility when turning into more commercial organizations.</p><p>Method: With an interpretive hermeneutic approach used in the sense of a qualitative study, we explain how the managers of five hockey clubs within Elitserien experience the adjustments when turning into more commercial organizations. The qualitative study consisted of a number of personal and phone interviews in order to collect the empirical data.</p><p>Results: The main implication of the commercialization of Swedish hockey is that it has created conflicts in the daily operations, caused by the contradictions between commercial and non-profit activities. In addition, the organizational structure has in general become more professional with an increasing amount of distinct areas of responsibility.</p>

<p><p>Business restructurings within multinational enterprises (MNEs) are regular occurrences. Such restructurings are often carried out in order to increase the MNE‟s competitiveness on the market by making the supply chain and management more efficient in order to ac-quire benefits due to economies of scale. There is a risk that such cross-border business re-structurings will transfer the profit/loss potential that is associated with the assets, risks and/or functions that are transferred, to low-tax jurisdictions in order to minimize the MNEs tax burden. Germany amended its tax act in order to prevent such profit potential from being transferred out of the country. This amendment came into effect on the 1st of January 2008. The OECD, which is the normative body on the international tax arena, re-leased a Discussion Draft for the public in September 2008 with the purpose to highlight the transfer pricing aspects of business restructurings and to serve as an interpretation of the application of the Transfer Pricing Guidelines on business restructurings. In this thesis, the concepts of profit/loss potential and indemnification, as they are pre-sented in the Discussion Draft, will be analyzed. The interpretation of the OECD will then be contrasted with the German and Swedish regulation of these concepts. The OECD defines a business restructuring as a transfer including a bundle of assets, risks and/or functions which are transferred across borders within a MNE. If this transfer in-volves the shift of profit/loss potential it shall be included in the valuation of the transfer price of the transactions. The profit/loss potential shall only be included if it can be identi-fied as belonging to a specific asset, risk or function of the bundle. In Swedish legislation there is only one rule which tax authorities can use in order to adjust the income of related parties. This regulation is not a specific rule for business restructurings as such but a gener-al rule for all transfer pricing matters. Sweden has traditionally followed the OECD guide-lines and the Swedish courts and tax authorities will most likely apply the guidance set out by the OECD on business restructurings as well.</p><p>Germany views a business restructuring as a transfer package which consist of assets, risks and/or functions which are transferred a cross borders within a MNE. The concept of business opportunities, i.e. the profit potential of the combined assets, risks and/or func-tions of the transfer package, shall be included in the valuation of the transfer package. In the valuation of the transfer package synergy effects for the MNE and location savings as a whole shall be included. This concept deviates from the view of the OECD. The OECD states that only local synergy effects and location savings shall be included in the valuation of the transfer package. The German approach leads to an inherent risk of overvaluation of the transfer package. The way of valuing the transfer package in Germany could lead to</p><p>taxation without realization, i.e. profits that would never have been or never could be rea-lized in Germany will be taxed. This contradicts the principle of realization. The OECD, in the Discussion Draft, gives an account for the possibilities for an indemni-fication for the transferor. A business restructuring can sometimes be compared with the breach of a contractual relationship. In such a situation, associated parties would be entitled to an indemnity if independent parties would be indemnified. Such an approach will be dif-ficult to apply in practice since indemnification is closely linked to nations national com-mercial legislation. The matter of indemnifying a party shall be decided on the merits of each case, and it can thereby be complicated to formulate a general regulation. The ques-tion regarding which authority shall be competent to govern such a matter must thereby al-so be resolved.</p></p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wyoming, 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Mar. 11, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.