L’innovation technologique est considérée comme un élément clef dans la constitution des économies, dites du savoir, ou de la connaissance. Ce cadre économique stimule une forte croissance des investissements immatériels dans l’objectif de création de valeur et de construction d’un avantage compétitif défendable sur le long terme. Néanmoins, l’innovation est un processus continu qui requiert un horizon de long terme pour transformer l’ensemble des connaissances, et des efforts de Recherche et Développement (R&D) en un produit ayant de la valeur économique. La dimension temporelle de l’innovation technologique renforce son caractère risqué et augmente l’incertitude quant à sa réussite. De même, les problèmes d’asymétrie d’information créés par le processus d’innovation s’accentuent. Cette thèse s’intéresse à la relation entre le capital-connaissances et la performance financière des entreprises, dans un premier temps, pour se pencher ensuite sur la question de la valeur de marché de l’actif intangible. Pour ce faire, nous élaborons une base de données unique, à partir des brevets européens et proposons de nouvelles mesures qualitatives au capital intangible, basées sur les caractéristiques des brevets. Cette thèse mesure empiriquement la valeur économique du capital-connaissances représenté par sa « matière première », à savoir les dépenses R&D et par son « produit fini » à savoir les brevets. Nous construisons, également un indice composite de la qualité de l’innovation afin de mieux représenter la valeur privée de l’immatériel. Enfin, cette thèse s’intéresse à la question d’écart entre valeur comptable et valeur de marché des entreprises en présence d’investissements immatériels. Pour ce faire, elle contient une étude prévisionnelle et causale de la performance opérationnelle par les dépenses R&D et l’indice composite de qualité. Ce dernier est proposé en tant qu’outil non-financier d’analyse et de prévision de performance. / Technological innovation is considered as a key element in the knowledge-based economies, where the share of intangible assets continues to grow significantly. The development of innovation is enhanced mainly in the purpose of value creation and the obtaining of a competitive advantage. Nevertheless, innovating is a long process where the lag between the investments in Research and Development (R&D) activities, considered as its input, and the obtaining of a valuable output, often estimated by the patent application, is large. The long character is emphasized by the uncertainty and the riskiness of the process which are at the root of important problems of information asymmetry between investors and the insiders. This dissertation studies the impact of intangible investments on the financial performance of companies in Europe. Therefore, we use a unique database of European patents and suggest a set of qualitative measures to innovation, based on the patents’ attributes. Moreover, this thesis estimates the market value of intangibles as measured by the R&D expenses, the patent applications but also the qualitative attributes. In this framework, we construct a composite quality index of innovation in order to better estimate its private economic value. The increasing lag between financial and book values in the presence of R&D investments leads us to undertake a causal study of innovation on the financial performance of companies. We suggest our composite index as non-financial metric to predict the future earnings and examine the effect of R&D on the growth and volatility of future operating incomes.

[pt] O Brasil ,atualmente, é o maior produtor de açúcar do mundo e o estado de São Paulo é o principal pólo produtor brasileiro. Apesar de possuir custos produtivos mais baixos do que em outros países, a exportação brasileira do açúcar enfrenta barreiras logísticas que elevam o custo total do produto, fazendo com que o açúcar brasileiro perca competitividade no mercado mundial. A falta de investimentos em portos e o estado precário das rodovias fazem com que a estratégica na logística de exportação do açúcar seja um diferencial num mercado altamente sensitivo aos custos de movimentação do produto. Num mercado de transporte de commodities agrícolas extremamente competitivo, é muito comum a influência constante de outros produtos,tais como soja, trigo, farelo de soja, etc no corredor de exportação do açúcar no estado de São Paulo, resultando numa oscilação constante nos fretes praticados no mercado de transporte terrestre. Nesse contexto, esse trabalho visa analisar a intermodalidade no Estado de São Paulo, na exportação do açúcar a granel pelo porto de Santos, utilizando como estudo a operação de um terminal de transbordo rodoviário-ferroviário situado em Santa Adélia, apresentando sua principais características operacionais e comparando-o com a alternativa de transporte rodoviário. / [en] Brazil is currently the world largest sugar producer and the state of São Paulo is the main Brazilian producer pole. Despite the lower production costs comparing with other countries, the Brazilian sugar export faces logistical barriers that increase the total cost of the product, making the Brazilian sugar lose competitiveness on world markets. The lack of investment in ports and the precarious state of the roads make the logistic strategic for sugar export a gap in a market highly sensitive to the costs of handling the product. In a extremely competitive market of commodities transportation, the influence of other products such as soy, wheat, soybean meal, etc in the corridor for export of sugar in São Paulo state is very common and visible, resulting in a constant fluctuation in freight prices during land transport. In this context, this work aims to analyze the intermodality in the State of São Paulo, during the bulk sugar export through the port of Santos, using as example the transhipment operation of a rail-road terminal located at Santa Adélia, showing their main characteristics and comparing their alternative with the of truck transport.

The Thesis is focused on financial and business performance evaluation of a DITON company. The method used in a Thesis is benchmarking. The first part provides theoretical opportunities for certain issues with pointing out the benchmarking importance. The second part contains company`s introduction, their competitors and situation analysis. Afterwards follows the main part of a Thesis that is benchmarking with appropriate competitors. The aim of analysis is to find weaknesses of company and find resolution to improve financial and business performance.

This master thesis is concerned with financial and business performance evaluation of the company RENATEX CZ a.s. Theoretical part deals with strategic analysis, company performance measuring methods, and financial analysis indicators. The practical part first evaluates RENATEX’s business environment and then, it provides a comparison of the company with selected competitors. While still using benchmarking methods, next phase of the thesis compares operational and financial indicators, services and products in offer, their quality, and implemented business strategies. Finally, the thesis suggests various measures to improve financial and business performance of the company.

The Master´s thesis deals with issues of operational performance of two photovoltaic power plants. In the thesis is stated the history of photovoltaics, description of photovoltaic effect, used materials and production technology of the most used material in PV industry – Silicon. The basic parts and parameters of photovoltaic power plant are described. Thesis also solves, how could be done the first and periodically control due to relevant directives. The ways of diagnostics potentional failures, methods of measuring and the exam of monitoring system are stated. Practice part is focused on measuring and comparing operational performance of FVE Kurdějov and FVE Šakvice II. Operational performance was calculated from exported data for years 2014 and 2015. The thesis also contains measuring of each string connected to inventors, which are installed on the power plant. The result is an identification of strings with decreased operational performance. Based on that was created recommendations for optimalization and increase of the performance. The last part is software for simulation of photovoltaic power plant. This SW calculates potentional energy, which could be produced in a day with available data export. The calculation is defined by parameters, which are assigned.

Bakgrund och problem: Lean är en välkänd ideologi som företag implementerar för att bidra till bättre kvalitet, kortare ledtid, högre produktivitet, lägre tillverkningskostnad, större leveransprecision, högre lönsamhet, mer flexibilitet och högre engagemang hos medarbetare. Detta för att hänga med i marknadsförändringar samt att bli, och fortsätta vara, framgångsrika. Det finns många studier som undersöker samband mellan Lean och operationella samt finansiella prestationer bland olika stora tillverkande företag, dock finns det ingen sådan studie utförd just i Sverige. Där av är det intressant att se hur svenska företag upplever Lean och identifiera samband mellan Lean-verktyg och prestationsmått för att studera likheter och skillnader jämfört med studier utförda i andra länder. Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att bidra till en ökad förståelse kring användningen av Lean i Sverige bland företag i tillverkningsbranschen samt förklara samband mellan användning av Lean-verktyg och prestationsmått (lönsamhet, kvalitet, tillverkningskostnader, leveransprecision, lagernivåer, ledtid, medarbetarnöjdhet och flexibilitet). Metod: En kvantitativ studie är utförd på svenska tillverkande företag i olika storlekar. Svar har samlats in från 95 respondenter i olika företag genom en webbaserad enkätstudie. Studien har anammat en deduktiv forskningsmetod med ett deskriptivt och förklarande forskningsändamål. Slutsats: Genom användandet av Lean-verktyg kan svenska tillverkningsföretag uppnå förbättrade operationella och finansiella prestationer. Företagets storlek, ålder eller lönsamhet påverkar inte förhållandet mellan Lean och prestationer, däremot kan explicit användning av Lean samt att engagera medarbetarna stärka de positiva effekterna av Lean. / Background and problematization: Lean is a well-known ideology that companies implement to contribute to better quality, shorter lead times, higher productivity, lower manufacturing costs, greater delivery precision, higher profitability, more flexibility and increased employee engagement. This is to keep up with the volatile market and to become and be successful. There are many studies that study the relationship between Lean and operational and financial performance among different sized manufacturing companies. However, there is no such study conducted in Sweden. Therefore, it is of interest to see how Swedish companies experience Lean and to identify correlations between Lean tools and performance measures to study similarities and differences compared to studies performed in other countries. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to an increased understanding of the use of Lean in Sweden among companies in the manufacturing industry and explain the relationship between the use of Lean-tools and performance measures (profitability, quality, manufacturing costs, delivery precision, inventory levels, lead time, employee engagement and flexibility). Method: A quantitative study has been carried out for Swedish manufacturing companies in different sizes. Answers have been collected from 95 respondents in different companies through a web-based survey. The study has adopted a deductive research method with a descriptive and explanatory research purpose. Conclusion: By using Lean-practices, Swedish companies can achieve improvements in both operational and financial performance. Company size, age or profitability does not affect this relationship between Lean and increased performance, although implementing Lean explicitly and engaging workers may further increase the positive effects of Lean.

The design process of a production system referred to as the production system design process (PSDP) impacts on the operational performancethroughout the lifecycle of the production system, especially on the rampupand operation phases. Despite the impact of activities of PSDP on the operational performance, how to manage the PSDP is still a challenge for manufacturing companies. Earlier research urged to develop a systematic PSDP concerning its impact on the operational performance. This thesis aims to contribute with knowledge of how manufacturingcompanies can manage the PSDP by investigating 1) the enablers in thePSDP that impact on operational performance in ramp-up and operation phases, and 2) how the lean production concept could be adopted tomanage the activities during the PSDP. A case study was conducted in aprocess type manufacturing company, where empirical data were collectedfrom three new production line launching projects by qualitative means. This thesis identifies a set of enablers in the PSDP that potentiallyimpact the operational performance after launching the productionsystem. Empirical findings demonstrate that ensuring proper actions onthe identified enablers in the PSDP could lead to higher operationalperformance of the designed production system. These enablers rangefrom the company´s internal boundary to external vendors, requiring asystematic way to manage these diverse aspects. Adopting the lean production concept in the PSDP context, this thesis proposes a model of Lean Production System Design Process, containing 13 principles andrelevant practices. The proposed model of lean PSDP could be used as a systematic processto manage the activities in the PSDP that would ensure proper actions related to the identified enablers. Empirical findings indicate that adoptionof lean in the PSDP could result in reducing lead time of launching a new production system, and achieving fast ramp-up and desired operational performance considering sustainability aspects. Finally, this thesis demonstrates how the lean PSDP could be a means to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage based on the resource based view theoretical perspective. / Utformningsprocessen av ett produktionssystem, i denna avhandlingkallad produktionssystemets utformningsprocess (PSUP), påverkar denoperativa prestandan under hela produktionssystemets livscykel, särskilt iupprampnings- och driftsfasen. Traditionellt sett ligger fokus underutformningsprocessen på att lansera det nya produktionssystemet vidplanerad tidpunkt och enligt budget. Trots att de aktiviteter somgenomförs i utformningsprocessen påverkar den operativa prestandan idriftsfasen, ägnas ofta mindre uppmärksamhet åt designfasen än vad somvore önskvärt. Tidigare forskning har argumenterat för att utveckla ensystematisk designprocess för framtagning av produktionssystem medsyfte att nå en positiv påverkan på den operativa prestandan. Forskningen i denna avhandling bidrar till att öka kunskapen om hurPSUP kan hanteras och förbättras genom att identifiera: 1) möjliggörare i PSUP som påverkar den operativa prestandan i upprampnings- ochdriftfasen, och 2) hur lean konceptet skulle kunna användas för att hanteraaktiviteterna under PSUP. Resultatet är identifieringen av ett antal faktorer/möjliggörare iproduktionssystemets utformningsprocess (PSUP) som potentiellt kanpåverka den operativa prestandan efter lansering av produktionssystemetoch produktionsstart. Dessa möjliggörare handlar om alltifrån frånföretagets interna gränser till externa leverantörer och kräver ensystematisk procedur för att dra nytta av faktorernas potential. Genom attanvända lean även i PSUP-sammanhanget, föreslås här konceptet Lean PSUP (produktionssystemsutformningsprocess), som innehåller 13 principer och relevanta praxis. Den föreslagna modellen för lean PSUP skulle kunna användas och gestruktur till hanteringen av aktiviteterna i utformningsprocessen.Forskningen indikerar att lean inte bara kan användas i driftsfasen utanäven i utformningen av ett produktionssystem, vilket skulle kunnaresultera i bättre integration mellan olika funktioner, minska ledtiden förutformning och lansering av ett nytt produktionssystem, och uppnå snabbupprampning och önskad operativ prestanda, både avseende produktionoch hållbarhet. Slutligen visar denna avhandling hur lean PSUP kan varaett sätt att uppnå konkurrensfördelar ur ett resursbaserat teoretiskt perspektiv.

政府為照護青年及弱勢族群的居住權利，興辦社會住宅為首要政策，然當前政府財政困境及資源不足情形，得運用民間資源以「公私協力夥伴(public-private partnerships，下稱PPP)」模式共同興辦社會住宅。惟現行促進民間參與公共建設法有政府不出資金及民間財務自償率適用門檻等特性，民間企業對於低自償性且具高益性之公共建設案件投資意願低；若開放附屬事業增加投資誘因，則產生政府未達公共建設目的、犧牲弱勢權益及公益性不足等爭議及輿論。 為提高民間企業投資誘因及推動社會住宅政策，本研究以我國BOT(Build-Operate-Transfer，建設-營運-移轉)模式導入國外民間融資提案(Private Finance Initiative，PFI)制度之營運績效付款概念為基礎，透過個案研究財務模擬，在促參法BOT制度下，進行現有民間自主營運及導入營運績效付款機制等兩模式進行財務效益分析，並以此作為深度訪談題綱資料，進行產、官、學三類型受訪者之個別訪談。 最後，經彙總深度訪談意見及各章節分析後，本研究得到下列幾點「運用營運績效付款興辦社會住宅」之重要結論與後續建議，以資作為未來政府機關以民間參與模式推動社會住宅或其他低自償高公益性類型之公共建設案件參考： 1.政府擔負租金率和租金調整風險，可降低民間企業營運風險，增加政府機關政策調整彈性和監督管理權力，具有達到興辦社會住宅政策目的及風險控制效益。 2.政府於營運期依營運績效給付固定價金予民間企業，除可提升公共建設服務品質，於民間企業可收取穩定租金現金流量佳，具投資誘因。 3.提供評估社會住宅之重大參數建議，包含：特許年期設定於20年~25年區間、合理利潤率設定於稅後報酬率8%~10%區間、付款機制於營運期間依服務可用度及績效評估分年付款，及土地租金得以公告地價1%或約定固定費率計收等，降低雙方案件執行風險及保障利潤。 4.促使案件順利執行之應配套事項，包含：政府機關確保長期預算編列及確保給付性、融資機構願專案融資可行性及合理制定成果規範、評核項目及扣款機制。 / To ensure the housing for young people and vulnerable social groups, implementing social housing is a top priority. Given the government’s financial difficulties and lack of resources, “public-private partnerships” (PPP) could be used to provide social housing. However, the Act for Promotion of Private Participation in Infrastructure Projects (the Act) stipulates that the government provides no funding nor an applicable threshold of self-liquidation ratio (SLR) for private enterprises. Private enterprises do not have such a great interest in investing in infrastructure projects with a low SLR or benefits. If affiliated business have a greater incentive to invest, it will result in a dispute or argument over the government’s disregard for infrastructure projects, the rights and interests of vulnerable groups, and public welfare. To increase private enterprises’ incentive to invest and promote the social housing policies, the study has introduced the concept of operating performance payment in the foreign PFI (Private-Finance-Initiative) system based on the BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model under the Act and has analyzed the financial benefits of private enterprises and the operating performance payment through a case study. The analysis was applied to develop in-depth individual interview questions with respondents from the businessman, the government, and specialist. According to feedback gathered from in-depth interviews and the summary of each chapter, the study drew the following conclusions and recommendations for the implementation of social housing through operating performance payment. The conclusion and recommendations could be used as future references in the implementation of social housing through PPP or infrastructure projects with a low SLR and high benefits： 1.The government shall bear the risks of adjustments to rental rates and rent to reduce the operational risk of private enterprises and increase the flexibility and power of supervision and management of its policies with the aim of implementing social housing and controlling risks. 2.During operation, the government pays a fixed amount to private enterprises based on their operating performance, which can improve the quality of service of infrastructure projects and provide a more stable rent for private enterprises thus further increasing their incentive to invest. 3.Major parameters of social housing are proposed, including a concession period of 20~25 years, a reasonable profit margin set at 8%~10% of after-tax as a rate of return, the annual payment of which shall made according to the availability of services and performance evaluation during operations, and land rent charged based on 1% of the published land price or an agreed fixed rate. These parameters can help reduce the risks of implementation and guarantee profits. 4.Mechanisms that support the implementation of social housing are proposed, including the government’s guarantee of budgets and payments, the feasibility of project financing and the establishment of proper standards for evaluating the results, determining the evaluation citeria, and deduction mechanisms.

The master's thesis focuses on the assessment of the financial and business performance of the company Direct Parcel Distrubution CZ s. r. o. by using the methods of benchmarking. The first part of work provides a theoretical background for the issue, with an emphasis on benchmarking. The second part of the thesis contains introduction of the company and situational analysis of the company. The following is the main part of the thesis, the acutal benchmarking of the company with selected competitors. The thesis concludes proposals to improve the financial and business performance of Direct Parcel Distribution CZ s.r.o.

Organizations specifically the airlines industry are increasingly facing the challenges of operational efficiency measurement. During the last years enormous attention has been given to the assessment and improvement of the performance of productive systems. However, literatures show that there are limitations of the existing models to measure efficiency uniformly and exhaustively across the airlines. The problems are due to lack of the technical efficiency measuring model which unifies and integrates different measuring models into a single model.Therefore, this thesis investigates assessment of the operational performance of world major airlines by employing integrated comparative models to address the above problems. In this study, technical efficiency is addressed among many performance issues by using three types of modes of performance measurement: a non parametric one, represented by Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and; a parametric one, represented by Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) and the Balance Scorecard (BSC) which is a strategic management tools. Unlike most of the previous studies, this study integrates the BSC concepts into DEA and SFA model. To evaluate technical efficiency of major international airlines, the study use panel of unbalanced data for the year 2007-2014 to make integrated comparative analysis. The research project incorporates seven leading variables and four lagging variables taken from BSC concept to implement into the DEA and SFA. All the three models of performance measurements have their own strength and limitation if they are used alone. But if the three models are integrated and combined together, they would yield better comparative and quality of efficiency assessment. Therefore, the study primarily developed a model beginning from the theoretical framework assumption into building of a unified comparative model of integrated comparative operational efficiency assessment of airlines. The research design and methodology uses secondary data collection i.e. annual reports and business reports of airlines which are collected from the airlines own website. The huge amount of financial and operational data cannot be collected by using primary data collection method as it would make it practically impossible and expensive. So by employing secondary data collection method saves time, money and a panel data can be accessed and generated easily. Hence, from 100 world major airlines population which are ranked by revenue, simple random sampling is used to select 80 samples airlines for this study. First, the BSC identifies the input and output variables. Next, the DEA model ranks the efficiency measurement, identifies the slack variables and benchmarks the airlines. Third, the SFA model identifies technical efficiency, the random error and technical inefficiency. Finally, the technical efficiency estimates obtained from the two techniques are analyzed comparatively. The research makes further analysis of particular case of the Ethiopian Airlines in relation to the most efficient and inefficient airlines and in comparison of the regional analysis. After extensive tests have been conducted, ‘Balanced Frontier Envelopment’ model is developed. According to this model, it is a paramount to measure efficiency with combining the strength of three models together and gives better results than the previous one or two combined models. The developed and integrated strategic model enhances measuring of the operating technical efficiency of airlines. This model benefit the airlines industry in many ways such as minimizing the cost and maximizing profit through managing technical efficiency which lead into the success of the airlines. From the model perspective, therefore, result of DEA model is much higher than the result of SFA model. DEA model is easier to manipulate than the SFA model because the former does not need the functional form while the later requires a functional form. Furthermore, according to the efficiency finding of the study, first, the European regional airlines are relatively more efficient than the rest of regions in the world. Second, the North America regional airlines are the second more efficient regional airlines in the world. Third, the Ethiopian airlines are the most efficient in Africa when we compare among Egyptair, Kenyan Airways and South African Airways. Fourth, high revenue does not necessarily leads to the technical efficiency of the firm. / Business Management / D.B.L. (Business Leadership)