The adverse effect of small bank closures in the United States from 2007 to 2009 required $7 trillion from United States taxpayers to rescue the United States economy. This comparative case study explored the reasons that led to differences in efficiency in small banks in the United States and Ghana during the 2007 to 2009 period. This research was driven by the contingency theory, which states leaders perform well if they change their styles of leadership to suit the situation at hand. Semistructured interviews were employed to gather data from 20 senior and chief executives of small banks: 10 from the United States and 10 from Ghana. Data were formatted into matrices using the van Kaam method and then coded and organized into categories, which led to the identification of the 2 themes: (a) policies and practices and (b) reasons that contributed to the differences in efficiency between small banks in the United States and Ghana. The participants expressed concerns regarding the impact of increased regulations and bank reserves, and the resulting impact on the future of small banks. Findings from this study suggest that small banks that relaxed their mortgage qualification requirements during the 2007 to 2009 financial crisis had more losses compared to the small banks that did not. Additionally, findings from the United States and Ghana revealed small banks focusing on commercial loans had less losses compared to small banks investing in residential real estate. This study may contribute to social change by providing bank leaders with additional tools to prevent future bank failures and the confidence to make new commercial and residential mortgage loans, thereby creating jobs, lowering poverty, increasing income levels, and contributing to a more stable economy in which small banks operate.

Real Estate law is the body of rules and regulations with legal codes that concern ownership, development and transactions. Real Estate has grown to be one of the main contributors to the nation's financial system. For decades, the housing market has been such an integral part of the economy. Unfortunately, in the beginning of the twenty-first century lax regulatory oversight led the nation to an economic collapse. Indeed, federal, state and local governments have become heavily involved in solving the downward spiral in the economy. This research focuses on the mortgage crisis in order to show how Real Estate law can in fact, restore the economy when the government has a balance between regulations and market discipline. The intent of this thesis was to study the occurrence of the mortgage crisis, the regulatory authorities and the legal effects of the housing market. Through the analysis of case law and statutes, data, previous recessions, and economic indicators, this thesis examines the key factors in our legal system that should drive reform in our economy. Results suggested that greater efforts to a regulatory structure generate a secure financial system. Thus, the purpose of this thesis is not only to solve our current mortgage crisis but also to mitigate or prevent future crises.

The purpose of this study was to examine crisis preparedness at Christian-affiliated institutions of higher education. Second, this study examined Christian-affiliated institutions of higher education presidents’ perspective of their institution’s ability to prepare for crises based upon the four critical indicators of organizational crisis preparedness as described by Zdziarski (2001): a) the types of crisis institutions prepare for, b) the phase of crisis prepared for, c) the systems in place to respond to crisis, and d) the stakeholders involved and considered in preparations. Implications from this study provided recommendations for crisis preparedness that are specific to Christian-affiliated colleges and universities. A total of (n=77) presidents of Christian-affiliated institutions of higher education completed the Campus Crisis Management Questionnaire. Overall, results indicated that presidents of Christian-affiliated colleges and universities perceived their institutions to be well-prepared to respond to campus crises. This study adds to the crisis preparedness literature in higher education on how smaller private, specialized institutions with limited resources prepares for crisis.

Nos actions sont nécessairement influencées par notre appartenance à un certain nombre de milieux formels, organisés selon des règles bien connues. Ce sont elles qui rendent possibles les entreprises collectives, aussi diverses soient-elles, et qui entretiennent notre impression de permanence des sciences, de la politique, de la technique, du commerce, de la religion ou des arts : nos règles communes organisent notre vivre ensemble. Toutes nos organisations, pourtant, se trouvent plongées dans des circonstances où leur structure formelle, telle que perçue et répétée par leurs acteurs, est prise en défaut : ils parlent alors de crise, et c'est premièrement à une investigation des limites de la pertinence de cette dimension formelle du phénomène organisationnel qu'invite cette thèse. Nous avons rencontré à cette fin des gestionnaires de différentes organisations dont l'expérience concrète en situation de crise, recueillie et analysée en suivant les procédures d'une recherche qualitative selon la théorie enracinée de Strauss et Corbin (1990), nous a permis de préciser les circonstances, vécues comme intenses, conduisant les membres des organisations à déroger à la convention formelle, lorsqu'ils la perçoivent comme inadéquate. Le phénomène organisant ne semble alors plus dépendre que de la confiance entre ces individus réunis en situation, occupés à lui donner un sens pour y agir ensemble. Nous répondons ainsi à une problématique managériale faisant le constat de l'importance de la confiance entre les gestionnaires de crise des différentes organisations impliquées dans sa réponse, rassemblés pour agir ensemble. Nous en clarifions les raisons, et nous intégrons ce processus de retour à la confiance comme dernier rempart du phénomène organisant, au processus plus général de l'expérience de la crise par les gestionnaires. Outre les recommandations pratiques aux gestionnaires susceptibles de faire face à des situations de crise relativement à l'utilité de la règle formelle, cette recherche contribue à une meilleure connaissance théorique de la relation interpersonnelle de confiance, ici envisagée entre les gestionnaires de différentes organisations, en décrivant un processus de confiance influencé par leur expérience de l'intensité du contexte de la relation.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

CHDS State/Local / Fire service personnel are ideally suited to contribute to the concerted national effort of homeland security. If they intend to be an effective component of this effort then a revamping of existing preparedness activities must occur. This thesis will analyze the effectiveness of the Los Angeles Fire Departments counterterrorism efforts to date. The central argument is that much more needs to be accomplished in the area of prevention strategies. The way ahead will require an analysis of the impediments to change which continue to obstruct the department's progress toward preventative measures. Barriers discussed herein are leadership, firefighting culture, lack of training and educational opportunities, and ineffective use of community involvement. The citizens of the United States have benefited from awareness and prevention programs in the past. Three models were considered to determine which attributes could be extracted and used to construct the foundation for a terrorism prevention model. Frameworks used in some nationally recognized agendas were studied in order to draw information for the development of a terrorism awareness program for first responders. Relative to each of these issues, a recommended course of action specific to the LAFD will be outlined in considerable detail. / Captain, Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)

CHDS State/Local / Past history and recent intelligence have shown that New York City (NYC), a critical node of the U.S. economy, is clearly in the terrorist's crosshairs. In order to reduce the probability, lessen the risk, and minimize the consequences of a Radiological Dispersion Device (RDD), or "dirty bomb," attack, NYC's first responders must be adequately prepared for its seemingly inevitable occurrence. This particular type of attack on NYC has the potential to create immense panic and confusion on behalf of the general public. Adding to the complexity of the problem is the notion that, since 9/11, the expected actions taken by employees in NYC high-rise office buildings in response to shelter-in-place instructions can be extremely difficult to predict. Therefore, a proposed public awareness campaign and a shelter-in-place plan are two cost-effective and easily implemented terrorism preparedness programs that would build the confidence and increase the capability of the citizenry. Since an RDD incident would likely result in a major inter-agency emergency operation, the unification of command, control, and coordination among NYC's first responder community is an essential element to its overall success. Hence, an informed and collaborative response by both public and private sector entities could potentially reduce casualties and save lives. / Deputy Chief, New York City Fire Department (FDNY)

Diplomado especializado en gestión del riesgo financiero. Segunda Parte

Diplomado especializado sobre gestión del riesgo financiero. Tercera parte

Diplomado especializado en gestión del riesgo financiero. Cuarta parte.