This study analyzes if there is a connection between ESG - which stands for Environmental, Social and Governance, and stock returns over time. The study also analyzes how integrating ESG can impact a company’s competitiveness long term. This is done by researching the following two research questions:1. How can a multiple regression model be formulated to determine if there is a connection between ESG and stock returns?2. How are companies integrating ESG and sustainability practices and what are the benefits of doing so?The first question was answered by performing a regression analysis on ESG factors reported on Nordic stocks and determining if the dependent variable ROI could be explained by these. The second question was answered by conducting a literature review and interviews with relevant actors. The results from the multiple regression analysis showed a low adjusted R2 of 0.23 which implied that there is no clear relationship between ESG factors and ROI. The literature review shows that there are positive outcomes associated with a company being sustainable that are not directly related to the financial yield. The interviews examined how different companies are integrating ESG and sustainability work into their business practice to achieve long- term competitiveness while also complying with regulations coming from the EU. In conclusion, there is no clear relationship between ESG and stock return, and the focus with ESG lies within ensuring that a company integrates sustainability to keep a competitive spot in the market and reduce risk, while also reducing their environmental and social impact. / Denna studie undersöker om det finns en koppling mellan ESG - vilket står för Environmental, Social och Governance, och avkastning över tid. Studien analyserar även hur integreringen av ESG kan påverka ett företags konkurrenskraft på lång sikt. Detta görs genom att undersöka följande två frågor:1. Hur kan en multipel regressionsmodell formuleras för att avgöra om det finns en koppling mellan ESG faktorer och aktiers avkastning?2. Hur integrerar företag ESG och hållbarhetsprinciper och vilka fördelar för detta med sig?Den första frågan besvarades genom att genomföra en regressionsanalys på ESG faktorer som hade rapporterats för Nordiska börsnoterade bolag och avgöra om den beroende variabeln total avkastning (ROI) kunde förklaras av dessa faktorer. Den andra frågan besvarades genom att genomföra en litteraturstudie och genomföra intervjuer med relevanta aktörer. Regressionsanalysen hade en låg tillförlitlighet och visade på att det inte fanns några tydliga kopplingar mellan ESG-faktorer och avkastningen. Resultatet från litteraturstudien visar att det finns positiva effekter av ESG som inte är kopplade till finansiella mått. Intervjuerna visar på att företag integrerar ESG i sitt arbete för att behålla sin konkurrenskraft på marknaden. Sammanfattningsvis så finns det ingen tydlig koppling mellan ESG-faktorer och aktiers avkastning, och fokus med ESG bör snarare vara att se till att företag arbetar hållbart för att behålla sin del av marknaden, minska risk och samtidigt minska sin påverkan på klimatet.

[pt] Essa dissertação apresenta as tecnologias de radiofrequência e geoposicionamento (RFID/GPS) associadas. A questão fundamental para esse estudo seria a implementação de um sistema baseado em RFID que permita o rastreamento de ferramentas especiais e a localização destas em tempo real. Essas ferramentas são usadas no processo para produção “offshore” de óleo e gás. Como se trata de investimento em uma tecnologia inovadora é relevante considerar a análise financeira do negócio e, portanto se recomenda o cálculo do Valor Presente Líquido (VPL) e consequentemente o retorno sobre o investimento (ROI). A análise econômica foi baseada em uma fase de operação onde há postergação do óleo e a inoperância com sonda, cujos custos são parâmetros que expressam valores em moeda mais significativos. Os resultados mostraram que o valor investido é recuperado em 4 anos e são potencializados quando há tendência de elevação no preço do óleo, alta produtividade do campo e redução dos custos decorrente da melhoria de equipamentos ou pelo aumento da demanda desses. Os resultados obtidos permitiram avaliar e comparar não apenas o retorno do investimento, como benefício de impacto, mas também perceber e avaliar os benefícios agregados à cadeia de valor que certamente vinculada a demanda pressionará a evolução de novas tecnologias em função de mudanças e procedimentos. / [en] This dissertation presents the radio frequency technologies and geopositioning (RFID and GPS) associated with it. The fundamental question for this study would be the implementation of a system based on RFID, which would allow the tracking and the location of these special tools in real time. These tools are used in the process for offshore production of oil and gas. As it comes to investment in innovative technology is relevant considering business and financial analysis, so it is recommended the calculation of the net present value (NPV) and therefore the return on investment (ROI). The economic analysis was based on a phase of operation where there is a delay of oil and ineptitude with the drilling rigs, which costs are parameters that express the most significant currency values. The results showed that the amount invested is recovered in 4 years and are enhanced when: there is a tendency to rise in price of oil, the field features high productivity and as there will be an increased demand and improvements in RFID equipment, the investment costs tend to decrease. The results obtained made it possible to evaluate and compare not only the return on investment, as the benefit of impact, but also realize and assess the benefits of value chain aggregates that certainly linked to the demand will put pressure on the evolution of new technologies in the light of changes and procedures.

The paper brings answers on the the question whether it is possible to measure the field of recruitment. Via quantifying the administrative process of recrutment, the paper reflects the savings of time and costs by using e-recruitment application (applicant tracking system ATS) and it searchs for the relationship between quality of hire and increase of company value and its profit.

In recent years, numerous high tech companies have developed and used technology roadmaps when making their investment decisions. Jay Paap has proposed the Customer Focused Technology Planning (CFTP) framework to draw future technology roadmaps. However, the CFTP framework does not include risk assessment as a critical factor in decision making. The problem addressed in this quantitative study was that high tech companies are either losing money or getting a much smaller than expected return on investment when making technology investment decisions. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between returns on investment before and after adding risk assessment to the CFTP framework. Paap's CFTP framework and process to improve technology investments thus served as the theoretical framework for this study. Data were obtained from cloud computing companies using the companies' market risk data and actual returns on investment data. The results and findings of paired sample two-tailed t tests for means and equal variances showed that return on investment was positively related to adding a traditional risk assessment model to Paap's CFTP framework. These findings regarding the addition of risk assessment to the technology investment framework may be used by investors to (a) make better and more expeditious decisions, and (b) obtain a high return on technology investment by selecting the highest return value and lowest risk value.