Medidas para gerenciamento de saúde e segurança em laboratórios são de extrema importância em laboratórios químicos. As pessoas que realizam qualquer atividade em um ambiente de laboratório estão expostas a diversos perigos e, consequentemente, existe o risco de ocorrência de eventos adversos para a saúde e segurança. Este trabalho foi desenvolvido em um laboratório químico de uma universidade federal tem como principal objetivo o aperfeiçoamento de uma framework que permite a realização de uma análise sistemática qualitativa e quantitativa das folgas presentes em um sistema sócio-técnico complexo. Ferramentas da Engenharia de Resiliência foram utilizadas para estudar o laboratório, o qual foi considerado como um sistema sócio-técnico complexo. Uma das características de um sistema resiliente é a capacidade de lidar com a variabilidade, o que pode ser obtido por meio de recursos de folgas (slack) no sistema. O uso da framework permitiu obter dados importantes para a análise do sistema e sugestões de melhorias. Os aperfeiçoamentos propostos na framework mostraram-se eficazes, principalmente na quantificação das folgas e variabilidades, em função da utilização do método AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) para a análise de dados. O método AHP tornou possível substituir o uso de questionários para toda a equipe por uma avaliação direcionada a especialistas. Ao utilizar o AHP, os dados podem ser adquiridos com maior rapidez. Outro ganho obtido com o uso do método AHP foi a possibilidade de redução de uma etapa da framework, tornando-a mais concisa. / Measures for health and safety management are of paramount importance in chemical laboratories. People who perform any activity in a laboratory environment are exposed to a variety of hazards and consequently there is a risk of adverse health and safety events. This work was developed in a chemical laboratory of a federal university, and has as main objective the improvement of a framework that allows the accomplishment of a systematic qualitative and quantitative analysis of the slack present in a complex socio-technical system. Tools of Resilience Engineering were used for studying a chemical laboratory, which was considered as a complex socio-technical system. One of the characteristics of a resilient system is the ability to deal with variability, which can be obtained through slack resources in the system. This work was developed in a chemical laboratory of a federal university and consists in the improvement of a framework that allows the accomplishment of a systematic qualitative and quantitative analysis of the slack present in the system. The use of the framework allowed to obtain data important for the analysis of the system and suggestions for improvements. The improvements proposed in the framework proved to be effective, especially in the quantification of slack and variability, as a function of the AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) method for data collection. The AHP method made it possible to replace the use of questionnaires for the entire team by an expert team assessment. By using AHP, data can be acquired more quickly. Another gain obtained with the use of the AHP method was the possibility of reducing one stage of the framework, making it more concise.

This study implements radial and non-radial Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models to assess eco-efficiency and eco-productivity of the 50 states in the United States in 2018. The models are based on three inputs (capital stock, employment, and energy consumption), a single desirable output (real gross domestic product) and a single undesirable output variable (CO2 emissions). The radial DEA models reveal that at least 32 states are operated efficiently. Five states perform at the most optimal scale size, whereas 17 states have considerable potential to boost their productive efficiencies by enlarging available resources, and 28 states are overinvested in their input variables given their current output levels. The non-radial DEA models show that, overall, the states’ capital efficiency is very high, whereas energy and emission efficiencies are very low. The states’ eco-productivity is relatively higher than the eco-efficiency levels. In the second stage of the analysis, non-parametric statistical tests and Tobit regressions are conducted for further investigation. According to the non-parametric statistical test, high capital stock, labor force, and energy usage do not affect the states’ productive efficiency. However, states with low carbon dioxide emissions have significantly higher eco-efficiency and eco-productivity levels. The Tobit regression results illustrate that nuclear power and renewable energy consumption significantly affect the states’ relative efficiencies.

Nowadays, the value creation and measurement of the economic performances have changed from traditional ways of maximizing shareholder’s wealth to maximizing stakeholder’s wealth. Companies are responsible for creating value not only for their organizationsbut also for the society as a whole because CSR issues attract a global attention and most countries are urging the companies to follow sustainable ways. In Nordic countries, Sweden is well known as a pioneer for sustainability and all the CSR activities aredisclosed in Sustainability or CSR reports. Although there are many researches related to the impacts of sustainability reporting and CSR performance on firm’s growth or financial performance, a research examining the relationship between CSR performance and stock price volatility of the companies cannot be found. Therefore, we aim to investigate the impact of the residual sustainability which is one of the dimensions to measure sustainability, on stock behaviorsand formulated the research question:What is the impact of Residual Sustainability on stock behaviors?The purpose of the thesis is to find out how residual sustainability is allocated in terms of monetary value, and whether this allocation of resources creates value for the shareholders or not. This leads to investigate the stock price volatility against the size of residual sustainability of the companies listed on Nasdaq OMX Stockholm. In adopting research methodology, we followed functionalist paradigm through the assumptions: regulatory side undersociology, objectivism under ontology, positivism under epistemology, and positivism under axiologybecause we consider that companies are rational entities and aim to provide rational explanation of whether residual sustainability haspossible impacts to stock behaviors or not. We answered the research question by adopting deductive approach. Based on exploratory and explanatory research, we designed archival research method to perform quantitative analysis in a cross-sectional study. We developed our theoretical framework based on Sustainable Enterprise Theory, Legitimacy Theory, Shareholder Theory, Stakeholder Theory and Resource-based view Theory and the analysis was conducted and discussed by relating with those theories. We extracted the data from EikonDataStream for years 2015, 2016 and 2017. We used different statistical methods to test normality of our variables, and run the tests with multilinear regression model to address our research question. The result indicates that there is no statistically significant relationship between residual sustainability and stock behaviorswithin the specific time frame. The possible reason is that the stock price is well adjusted before creating stock volatility because the sustainability in Sweden is likely to be predicted for the future. Secondly, most of the Swedish companies are fully utilized the residual fund for innovation, talent retention, research and development and other purposes and thereby it may create delay adjustment on stock price until value creation for organizationis generated.

Yes / Three-dimensional finite element models were executed and validated to investigate the performance of buried flexible high-density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes, in unreinforced and multi-geogrid-reinforced sand beds, while varying pipe burial depth, number of geogrid-layers, and magnitude of applied cyclic loading. Geogrid-layers were simulated considering their geometrical thickness and apertures, where an elasto-plastic constitutive model represented its behaviour. Soil-geogrid load transfer mechanisms due to interlocked soil in-between the apertures of the geogrid-layer were modelled. In unreinforced and reinforced cases, pipe burial depth increase contributed to decreasing deformations of the footing and pipe, and the crown pressure until reaching an optimum value of pipe burial depth. On the contrary, the geogrid-layers strain increased with increasing pipe burial depth. A flexible slab was formed due to the inclusion of two-geogrid-layers, leading to an increase in the strain in the lower geogrid-layer, despite its lower deformation. Inclusion of more than two geogrid-layers formed a heavily reinforced system of higher stiffness, and consequently, strain distribution in the geogrid-layers varied, where the upper layer experienced the maximum strain. In heavily reinforced systems, increasing the amplitude of cyclic loading resulted in a strain redistribution process in the reinforced zone, where the second layer experienced the maximum strain.

Ring Barrier signal controller in VISSIM traffic simulation software provides different options for configuring Transit Signal Priority. This controller emulator allows for considering arterial progression by Priority Progression parameter; preferring specific transit signal priority calls to other calls by Priority Level feature; providing more green split to the signal priority phase by Green Extension attribute. This study aims to evaluate the impact of these three parameters on the performance of transit signal priority. The study area is based on three signalized intersections of Prices Fork Road in Blacksburg, Virginia. A total of five transit lines are assumed to request signal priority. Green Extension and Priority Level were found to have significant influence on bus delays, whereas bus frequency is not a significant variable to affect TSP effectiveness (for reducing the transit delays). This study also aims to identify the traffic conditions in which the adaptive feature of VISSIM Ring Barrier Controller can be most useful. Detector Slack, Detector Adjust Threshold, and Adjust Step are the parameters that should be hardcoded in the controller for activating the adaptiveness feature. The study area (Prices Fork Road in town of Blacksburg, VA) incorporates five bus lines are assumed eligible to request priority. This study revealed that transit service overlap can enhance or exacerbate each bus performance when transit signal priority is implemented, depending on the scheduled headways and the frequency of signal priority requests in each intersection. / Master of Science

No / This study examines the effects of organizational financial capacity on sustainable procurement and the extent to which socially responsible human resource capability and sustainability leadership mediate this relationship. Data obtained from 322 organizations through quantitative surveys were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results suggest the following: financial capacity has a significant positive effect on sustainable procurement; financial capacity has a significantly positive effect on socially responsible human resource capability; sustainability leadership and socially responsible human resource capability mediate the positive effect of financial capacity on sustainable procurement. The research contributes to the literature a perspective on the mechanisms through which organizational financial capacity influences sustainable procurement via socially responsible human resource capability and sustainability leadership. The insights provided will inform management decisions and actions regarding how organizational finance can be leveraged strategically to optimize sustainable corporate practices and outcomes.

創新已成為現代組織成長及獲利之關鍵，卻因其多變且不確定的本質使組織承擔了高度風險，而進一步觀察組織創新流程，可說是透過一系列的實驗行動來加以實現，對組織競爭力扮演著關鍵的角色。 以探討促進與維持組織實驗行動及其影響要素為研究目的，經由文獻探討與前導個案之觀察與分析，認為資源餘裕與實驗氣候將影響企業投入實驗行動的意願與能力，並進而影響組織創新活動。因此，透過研究變項量表之發展及衡量方式之界定，針對組織資源餘裕、實驗氣候、實驗行動與其創新活動間之因果互動關係加以釐清。 本研究以台灣地區資訊服務業廠商作為實證研究的對象，有效分析樣本廠商共115家，並分別以變異數分析、迴歸分析及結構方程模式等統計方法對回收資料進行分析。 主要結論包括：(1)以變項間之因果關係觀之：組織資源餘裕對實驗氣候、實驗行動及創新活動具有正向影響；實驗氣候對實驗行動及創新活動有正向影響；而組織實驗行動進行越多，將越有助於組織創新活動的推展；(2)路經分析結果顯示，組織實驗行動扮演著關鍵性中介角色，資源餘裕/實驗氣候對組織創新活動之正向影響，乃透過實驗行動之中介而達成；(3)「組織實驗氣候」構念主要乃由「意會學習」與「失敗免疫」兩次構面組合而成；(4) 大型企業在資源餘裕、實驗行動與創新活動等三研究變項之表現顯著優於中小企業。

本論文基於尋求解釋權變觀點長久以來存在的問題：『為何實證上配適對績效影響一直沒有一個一致性的定論(mixed empirical support)』，因為根據權變觀點的主張『組織效能決定於組織的特徵(例如：策略、組織結構)與組織所處的情境是否配適(fit)，當兩者配適時則組織會產生較佳的績效』，所以企業追求配適，績效將愈高。由於配適概念具有績效意涵，因此配適在許多理論建構過程中，扮演重要的角色，例如：國際企業領域著名的折衷理論(Eclectic theory)，所以當權變觀點的核心主張『配適有助於提升績效』在實證上不一定成立時，則會影響理論的建構與發展。 為了解配適概念在實證上遇到的問題，本論文透過三個研究進行分析。在第一個研究，本論文針對權變觀點的文獻進行系統性的整理，並採用統合分析(meta-analysis)探討配適與績效的關係。研究結果顯示，配適對績效的效果量(effect size)為正，說明權變觀點的核心主張依舊成立，組織追求配適確實可以產生正向的績效。而影響實證結果不一致的原因則來自於配適的定義與衡量方法、衡量配適的變數個數、以及是否採用時間落差(time lag)三項干擾因子，呼應Venkatraman(1989)的主張。 接下來，第二個研究本論文採用質性個案研究的方式，探討配適與績效的關係。研究過程中結合動態能力(Dynamic Capability)的概念，透過企業在不同成長階段的營運活動分析，觀察企業如何追求配適、如何調整與轉換既有的配適構型、以及追求配適對企業經營產生哪些影響。第一個研究發現與企業追求配適有關，企業追求配適的前提，必須先擁有有價值的核心優勢(例如：製造、產品開發)，並以該核心優勢為中心，透過不同價值活動的緊密配合與組合，建立初期的配適構型(configuration)。第二個研究發現與配適的調整與轉換有關，發現為：(1)當企業成功創造初期的配適構型後，企業內部開始產生餘裕資源；(2)隨著企業價值活動的強化，前期的暫時性核心優勢會逐漸轉變為長期性的核心優勢；(3)透過創業家精神與策略更新，企業開始運用餘裕資源構築多核心優勢的配適構型。第三個研究發現與配適對企業經營之影響有關，發現如下：(1)企業建構配適構型時，當價值活動間關係愈緊密、複雜時，愈容易形成阻隔機制，競爭優勢愈能持久；(2)透過阻隔機制(isolating mechanisms)效果的發揮，以及時間壓縮的不經濟(time compression diseconomies)效果，可增加模仿的困難度並拉開與競爭對手之間的距離，創造績效。 第三個研究則承接研究一與研究二的部分結論，透過實證重新驗證配適與績效的關係，同時對於文獻上餘裕資源效果的爭論提出解釋。研究結果發現：(1)當企業內部存在互補的企業專屬資源以及擁有豐富產業經驗的高階管理團隊，則運用餘裕資源創造配適的效率愈高；(2)藉由調整TMT管理團隊的組成方式可以有效避免管理者的代理問題，增加運用餘裕資源創造配適的效率；(3)當企業運用餘裕資源創造配適的效率愈高，則企業運用資產獲利的能力愈強，企業績效也愈高。 總結來說，本論文從實證上配適與績效關係不一致的現象出發，對於實證結果不一致的原因提出說明，並且透過質性個案研究的方式，了解企業追求配適的過程及配適的效果，最後，藉由實證的方式，重新驗證配適與績效的關係，並且為企業如何有效運用餘裕資源提供具體的建議。 / This thesis aims to interpret the long existing question in contingency theory: mixed empirical support, i.e., no consistency can be found in the empirical relationship between fit and performance. This is intriguing, since according to contingency theory, organizational effectiveness is dependent on the fit between an organization’s characteristics (such as strategy and structure) and its existing circumstances, and with such a fit, the organization will have a better performance. Consequently, firms that pursue fit will achieve better performances. Since the concept of fit includes implications on performance, fit plays an important role in the development of many theories, e.g., the well-known eclectic theory. Hence, when contingency theory’s core proposition of fit is conducive to performance becomes fallible, overall theory construction and development will be affected. To further understand the fit issue, three studies are conducted in this thesis. For the first study, contingency theory literature was systematically studied and meta-analyzed with a special focus on the relationship between fit and performance. The findings show that fit has a positive effect size on performance which supports the core proposition of contingency theory in which organizational pursuit of fit does lead to positive performance. The reason for mixed empirical supports originates from three interference indicators of fit measurement methodology, number of variables, and whether the use of time lag. This finding echoes Venkatraman’s (1989) viewpoint. Next, a second study was conducted using qualitative approach to further explore the relationship between fit and performance. By integrating the concept of dynamic capability into the study, the researcher, by analyzing business operation activities in different stages of firm growth, observed how businesses pursued fit, how existing fit configurations were adjusted or changed, and what effects were created through the pursuit of fit in a firm. Three major study findings were identified. Firstly, in terms of how businesses pursue fit, a pre-requisite is that businesses must possess valuable core competences (e.g., manufacturing, R&D) and, by closely combining and coordinating different value activities to these core competences, initial fit configurations are built. Secondly, in terms of adjusting and changing fit, the findings include: (1) with the business’ initial successful fit configuration, slack is produced within the business; (2) as the business strengthens its value activities, previous temporary core competences will gradually transform into long-term core competences; and (3) through entrepreneurship and strategic renewal, the business will utilize its slack create a fit configuration of multiple core competences. Lastly, effects of fit on business management includes: (1) in the process constructing a business’ fit mechanisms, as the relationship between value activities become closer and more complex, isolating mechanisms are more easily formed, leading to more sustainable competitive advantages; and (2) by capitalizing on isolating mechanisms and time compression diseconomies, imitation become more difficult and the distance between competitors are widened, thereby creating performance. The third study adopted the findings of the previous two studies to empirically re-examine the relationship between fit and performance, while also proposing an explanation to the slack resource debate found in past literature. The research findings include: (1) when a business possesses complementary proprietary resources and highly experienced top management team (TMT), it enjoys a higher success rate of using slack resources to create fit exists; (2) agency costs can be reduced and increase in the efficiency of slack resource utilization to create fit can be achieved by adjusting the configuration of the TMT; and (3) with a higher rate of fit achievement through slack resource utilization comes stronger abilities to generate profits from business assets as well as a higher performance rate. In conclusion, this thesis started off by providing an explanation to the empirical inconsistency between fit and performance. Moving along, the researcher then used the qualitative case study research method to explore the process of businesses’ pursuit of fit and the effects of fit. Lastly, with an empirical study, the relationship between fit and performance is re-examined and specific suggestions are provided on effective business utilization of slack resources.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T20:08:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 71060100724.pdf: 1653381 bytes, checksum: bb187a86fbe789374d23b0884cf427a3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-05-26T00:00:00Z / The main objective of this research was to explore relationship between organizational innovativeness and organizational slack in manufacturing companies at São Paulo State/Brazil regarding several industries. This research also tested, in a value chain basis, a model concerning cooperation as organizational innovativeness driver, as well as verified organizational innovativeness influence on firm performance. This research used two methodological approaches: quantitative and qualitative ones complementing each other. Concerning the quantitative approach, the Sondagem das Necessidades de Inovação na Indústria Paulista (SNIIP) research was used. The SNIIP was made by Federação das Indústrias do Estado de São Paulo (FIESP). This database has 229 companies from 24 different manufacturing industries at São Paulo State. The research tool used in this quantitative study was the statistical technique of multiple regressions, Concerning the qualitative approach, a sample of 9 medium and large companies from different manufacturing industries was used. The research tool used in this qualitative study was case study in order to complement and deepen the analysis of the previous quantitative study. The main results of this study are that organizational slack positively influences organizational innovativeness; Cooperation, can be viewed as a driver and positively influences organizational innovativeness; and, organizational innovativeness, as well, positively influences firm performance. / Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo principal explorar a influência da folga organizacional na capacidade de inovação em empresas de manufatura do Estado de São Paulo, em diversos segmentos da indústria de transformação. Fez parte deste objetivo testar, em um contexto de cadeia de valor, um modelo do papel da cooperação como driver da capacidade de inovar da empresa, e por fim, verificar a influência da capacidade de inovar no desempenho na empresa. Esta pesquisa fez uso de duas abordagens: uma quantitativa e outra qualitativa de maneira complementar. A pesquisa quantitativa foi realizada com a utilização da pesquisa de Sondagem das Necessidades de Inovação na Indústria Paulista (SNIIP) elaborada pela Federação das Indústrias do Estado de São Paulo (FIESP). Compõe esta base 229 empresas do segmento de indústria de transformação paulista, de 24 setores industriais diferentes. Como ferramental metodológico para a abordagem quantitativa, utilizou-se a técnica estatística de regressão múltipla. Para a abordagem qualitativa, utilizou-se uma amostra de 9 empresas de porte médio e grande de diferentes setores da indústria de transformação paulista. Na pesquisa qualitativa fez-se uso do método de estudo de caso para complementar e aprofundar as análises do estudo quantitativo. Entre os principais resultados desta pesquisa observou-se que a influência da folga organizacional na capacidade de inovação da firma, é positiva. A cooperação, por sua vez, aparece como um agente representativo e que influencia positivamente a capacidade de inovar das firmas analisadas. A capacidade de uma firma inovar, por sua vez, influencia positivamente seu desempenho.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:31:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Andre Fernandes Lima.pdf: 717720 bytes, checksum: e1002c943e6cd65b97220bcb149117a4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-02-04 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / This dissertation aims to investigate the existence of a causal relationship between levels of organizational slack, the risk of the company and its performance. The point of departure is the conjecture that the magnitude of the organizational slack is a determinant factor of the risk as well as the performance of the company. The importance of this piece of research lies on the empirical fact that owners of a company are willing to take risks based on the prospect of returns. In order to test the causal relationship, it proceeds as follows. First, it collects data from 218 manufacturing companies in the period 2001-2007 and combines part of it through factor analysis so as to compose the three types of organizational slack: available, recoverable and potential ones. Second, the data is arranged in the form of a panel and is next assessed by the generalized method of moments (GMM). The results support the validity of the two proposed models: the first takes risk as the dependent variable, while the second takes future performance. The findings corroborate the hypothesis that the organizational slack has a nonlinear influence on risk and performance. In addition, they shed light on the increased robustness of the second model relative to the first one. This is regarded as the second contribution of the dissertation provided that most literature emphasizes the influence of the organizational slack over risk neglecting its role in performance. We go on to claim that the little attention paid to performance contributes to the available inconclusive empirical results within the literature. / O objetivo do trabalho é investigar a existência de uma relação causal entre os níveis organizacionais de folga, o risco da empresa e seu desempenho. O ponto de partida é a conjectura de que a magnitude da folga organizacional é fator determinante do risco representado pela empresa, bem como de seu desempenho. A importância desta pesquisa recai sobre o fato empírico de que os proprietários da empresa estão dispostos a se expor a riscos com base na perspectiva de retorno. Para testar esta relação causal são considerados dados de 218 empresas manufatureiras no período 2001-2007, sendo parte destes dados agrupados através de análise fatorial, de forma a compor os três tipos de folga organizacional considerados: disponível, recuperável e potencial. Em seguida, os dados são dispostos na forma de painel e, então, analisados através do método dos momentos generalizados (GMM), o que constitui uma contribuição original. Os resultados obtidos suportam a validade de dois modelos propostos, o primeiro em que o risco é variável dependente, e o segundo em que a variável dependente é o desempenho futuro, corroborando a hipótese de que a folga organizacional exerce influência não linear sobre o risco e o desempenho. Adicionalmente, verifica-se que o modelo de desempenho futuro é mais robusto, sendo esta a segunda contribuição da pesquisa. Isso decorre do fato de que grande parte da literatura enfatiza a influência da folga organizacional sobre o risco, negligenciando sua significância sobre o desempenho. Argumenta-se aqui que tais práticas implicaram em resultados empíricos não conclusivos na literatura.