This exploratory study examines linguistic and structural features of written narratives for predictive value in determining the likelihood of veracity or deception. Sixty narratives written by suspects and victims identified through the investigation of criminal incidents provided the database. The law enforcement context allowed for the examination of communication under stress. Using a retrospective approach, the veracity or deception of the narratives had already been determined; therefore, the study was able to focus on the degree to which selected linguistic and structural attributes were able to predict veracity and deception. Six research questions guided the study, drawn from theoretical works and research in psychology, linguistics, and criminal justice. Three questions asked whether a positive relationship exists between deception of the narratives and the narrative attributes of equivocation, negation, and relative length of the prologue partition. Three questions asked whether a positive relationship exists between veracity of the narratives and unique sensory details, emotions in the conclusion partition, and quoted discourse. Support was found for the three questions relating to deception and for a relationship between veracity and unique sensory details. Weak support was found for a relationship between veracity and emotions in the conclusion partition. No relationship was found with veracity and the general category of quoted discourse. When quoted discourse without quotation marks was examined separately, a weak relationship with veracity was found. An additional finding was a relationship between relative length of the criminal incident partition and veracity. A logistic regression model was developed to predict veracity or deception using the six predictors from the research questions. The resulting model correctly classified the examined narratives at an 82.1% classification level. The most significant predictor of veracity was unique sensory details; the most significant predictor of deception was length of the prologue partition. The analysis of the examined narratives written by suspects and victims suggests that linguistic and structural features of written narratives are predictive of the likelihood of veracity and deception. These results lend support to the Undeutsch Hypothesis (1989) that truthful narratives differ from fabricated narratives in structure and content. / Ph. D.

Η εργασία χωρίζεται σε τέσσερα κεφάλαια. Το πρώτο κεφάλαιο είναι η εισαγωγή και κάποιες πληροφορίες για τις εταιρείες των οποίων θα κάνουμε την ανάλυση των οικονομικών καταστάσεων. Στο δεύτερο κεφάλαιο αναφέρεται η μεθοδολογία που ακολουθήθηκε που για την εκπόνηση της εργασίας. Δηλαδή ο τρόπος που έγινε η δουλειά. Ακόμη γίνεται αναφορά στους αριθμοδείκτες που θα χρησιμοποιηθούν. Στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο γίνεται η ανάλυση των οικονομικών καταστάσεων και, προφανώς, η εξαγωγή συμπερασμάτων βάσει των αποτελεσμάτων των αριθμοδεικτών. Τέλος, κάνουμε μία συνολική σύγκριση των υπό μελέτη εταιρειών, σύμφωνα με τα δεδομένα του τρίτου κεφαλαίου, βγάζοντας ένα γενικό συμπέρασμα. / --

This thesis deals with accounting-based equity valuation models. The first study contrasts the performance of three commonly used valuation models, using a large sample of analysts’ forecasts of the elements valued by these models (free cash flow, dividends and abnormal earnings/residual income). The second study investigates empirically whether discount rate estimation is a first-order effect in equity valuation. The third and fourth studies focus on developing routines for implementation of multi-period valuation models, including the critical issue of terminal value estimation. The thesis shows how model choice is a critical issue, given standard implementation of the valuation models (Study 1); how standard models for discount rate estimation are of little or no use practically (Study 2); how one can implement a multi-period valuation framework such that everything is internally consistent, and how this leads to several desirable features, such as model equivalency (Studies 3 and 4). The thesis is valuable to readers interested in accounting-based equity valuation who wish to understand, to distinguish among, and to appropriately implement valuation techniques. / Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögsk.

We structure a literature review which we provide with broader definitions of the majorconcepts: value creation, cost efficiency (leadership), competitive strategies, financialperformance and statement analysis. The literature review focuses mainly on Hong Kongcontext and literatures supporting the similar business strategies among similar size ofcompanies from various industries.The study takes forms as a quantitative study with a deductive approach. A set offinancial performance data will be collected and examined, to show how companyperformance is correlated to its strategies and what an outcome is. We aim at providinganother perspective of investment analysis approach to the potential investors, so theycould embrace the whole picture of available information.We develop two groups of hypothesis; the first group is company’s strategy measures thatshow no effect on financial performance, the second group is company’s strategymeasures that show some effect on financial performance.The result indicates while normally staff cost and cost of sale are recognized as costleadership measure under product industry, it implies positive contribution to valuecreation financial performance in service industry, instead of having influence onprofitability. Also, the wealth generated from previous sale revenue margin will havepositive impact on company’s competiveness in the hotel industry.Keywords: value creation cost leadership, competitive strategies, financial performanceand statement analysis

The nature of range ¡§ automobile ¡§ has high technology and traditional science both together. It expands living habit and areas for the human beings but also lead hazard and risky on environment and safety. What is the value of competition about the automobile? What are the cons and pros on traditional manufactures with United States, Japan and Germany? Any structure change from then until now? The subject essay is based upon the automobile research report, which was issued on 1990 by MIT, analysis of GM with The United States, Toyota with Japan and Volkswagen with the Germany 1991-2005 financial statements and volume production strategy to continue the analysis. The automobile manufactures were following the model of productions TPS after MIT research report was announced. The above companies were not being able to follow and copy the model very successfully. Because that past successful enterprise cultural was difficult to abandon and among different countries cultural background and basis were total different and individual. They could only practice the fur of Japanese Toyota. For example, GM was combined with Toyota to build up factory as issue; looks like GM have had good flow and function on inventory turn over percentage and cost of sales volume. After operation factors were getting worse even turn their inefficiency out to the fact. The traditional craftsman¡¦s art with Germany were become the sign of obstacle to the TPS.

The aim of the thesis is to analyse financial health of the company Gumárny Zubří, a. s., using the financial statements covering the period from 2007 to 2011. In the theoretical part the process of financial statement analysis is introduced including its importance, goals, users, sources and methods. In the practical part after presenting the company the methods are applied on it. The most important findings are summed up in the closing part of the thesis.

This research project investigated the effectiveness of the Piotroski screen to select financially sound stocks from the upper quintile of high book-to-market value (growth) stocks on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The period chosen for this study was all the years since the publication of the Piotroski screen in 2000 until the most recent financial year, 2011.Although no conclusive evidence was found that the mean returns from the portfolio of financially strong firms that were selected by means of the Piotroski screen were significantly better than the portfolio of value stocks, it was strongly suspected that the small group of firms that were signified as financially the strongest by the Piotroski screen had a decreased probability of containing firms with negative one year buy-and-hold returns compared to the other portfolios. Although the outcome was inconclusive due to small sample sizes, it was also strongly suspected that the one year buy-and-hold strategy yielded returns that were in the order of almost four times better than the five year buy-and-hold strategy.It was recommended that, in order to minimise suboptimal investor behaviour caused by psychological biases on the JSE, investors should adopt a mechanical investment method based on objective financial statement analysis, using the Piotroski screen to select financially strong firms from the pool of value firms. It was further recommended that an annual portfolio balancing strategy should be used. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The problem concerned the financial indicators used to evaluate the financial condition of the six sister higher education institutions under the authority of the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges. The purposes were to determine the financial ratios that best indicate financial condition; to calculate those financial ratios for the six designated Oklahoma higher education institutions; and to evaluate and compare the financial condition of the six institutions. This study attempted to further the use of financial ratio analysis as an objective addition to subjective studies that examine an institution's definition of its mission, objectives, and goals and its own assessment of the degree to which its resources allow it to attain those goals. The data were obtained from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System; the financial reports were audited by independent certified public accountants and presented to the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges; and John Minter Associates, Inc., provided the national norms. The set of financial ratios identified provides a means to study a single higher education institution through trend analysis and in comparison to national norms. It also works well with a sample of homogeneous institutions with interinstitutional comparison. The techniques are intended to provide a general profile of an institution’s financial health. Cause-and-effect ratio analysis has been proposed as another technique to aid administrators in determining changes in their financial statements and what may have caused them. The study identified a set of financial ratios that summarize the financial condition of a higher education institution. The ratios helped to analyze the financial solvency and viability of the six Oklahoma higher education institutions and focused on the ability of the institutions to meet current and future financial requirements. The importance of financial statement analysis should not be underestimated. The understandable format of financial ratios allows virtually any stakeholder to acquire a basic comprehension of the most critical financial policies of institutions and their financial condition.

水泥產業為內需型之區域產業，且高耗能、高資金及高污染，礦源蘊藏及開採權，受總體經濟環境榮枯影響深切等特性，其製造地與銷售地，基於成本及政策等因素考量，無法像有些產業只需幾個生產基地，行銷地就可佈及較廣。故水泥業的資產週轉效率、成本控制能力及業務對市場行銷及開發的能力就很重要。 本研究應用Penman(2009)所提之財務報表分析與證券評價架構，用普通股權益報酬率(return on commom shareholders’ equity，ROCE)及以應計基礎下之財務資訊，來分析台灣水泥業的龍頭廠商-A公司與B公司，2004年至2008年財務報表品質及獲利能力，並計算其企業價值。同時對其所處之產業發展及現況亦作分析與了解，期對個案公司提出建議。

Kooperativa pojišťovna, a.s., Vienna Insurance Group is the second largest insurance company in conditions of the Czech insurance market. Kooperativa is an universal insurance company, which offers insurance products and services to individuals and companies. The main aim of the diploma thesis is to define a position of Kooperativa commercial insurance company in the Czech insurance market. In order to reach the object of the thesis is necessary to respect for insurance's characteristics, specifics and main competitors. The first part of the thesis is focused on basic information about company and insurance products. The second part is dedicated to company's economy, which includes analysis of premium written, financial statement and ratios of financial analysis.