由於環保意識抬頭及商界和社會之間日益惡化的情況下，企業正在努力尋找新的商業模式來重塑資本主義。麥可·波特主張創造共享價值，試圖找尋新一波創新的商業模式來重塑資本主義。共享價值模式能夠為企業和社會創造財富，因此為越來越多的企業紛紛加入創造共享價值的行列。 本論文主要使用個案分析法和次級資料分析法進行研究。研究係透過了解利害相關人對於智慧電網的態度，以及解析智慧電網產業價值鏈來分辨共享價值之所在。透過對於智慧電網相關的研究，以及共享價值的學術文獻來建立研究架構。同時也蒐集了IBM公司以及智慧電網相關產業的動態訊息支持研究分析。其目的是要找出IBM公司的商業模式是否符共享價值模型之定義。研究彙整了智慧電網的利害相關人的意見，並且進行IBM所提供智慧電網方案與共享價值的關聯性分析。然後建議IBM對於創造共享價值可能的發展方向與模式。 研究結果發現IBM提供的智慧電網方案與創造共享價值其實是有關聯性的。然而，大部分的價值是透過與產業鏈結合而間接被創造出來的。在智慧電網方面，IBM並無法獨立創造出共享價值。因而提出了在面對利害關係人時，需要清楚辨認誰是最主要的影響者。透過連鎖效應的方式使得智慧電網能夠更符合創造共享價值。 另外，由於智慧電網應用技術的複雜性使得本研究的力度受到限制。 / Due to the rise of environmental awareness and the worsening situations between the business community and society, corporations are trying to find a way to reinvent capitalism. Michael E. Porter advocates that Creating Shared Value might be the answer for how business will able to reinvent capitalism and unleash the next wave of business and innovation. More and more corporations have jumped on the CSV bandwagon to create wealth for both the business and the society. Case analysis and secondary data analysis techniques are employed in this paper as the research method, through analyzing the stakeholders that are in the smart grid landscape. Academic literature, research papers, publications and information from relevant websites are used to support the analysis. The purpose is to find out whether IBM Company’s business model is in accordance with the shared value model by analyzing the opinions of stakeholders of smart grid and the proposes values of IBM’s smart grid solutions. The results are that most of the solutions that IBM has for smart grid are somehow relevant to the concept of CSV. However, most of the values proposed are rather indirect　as they are often created through collaborating with other players in the value chain. IBM alone would not be able to create a shared value model of its own. Therefore, suggestion has been made to emphasize on the importance of clearly identifying who has the biggest influence among stakeholders. Through chain effect between the stakeholders to enhance Smart Grid to become a more distinct shared value model. Also, due to the complexity of technologies involved in smart grid, the research has many limitations.

The phenomenon of business value dissipation in mature organisations as an unintended by-product of the adoption and use of information systems has been a highly debated topic in the corporate boardroom awakening the interest of practitioners and academics alike. Much of the discourse tends to focus on the inability of organisations to unlock and realise the intended benefits to be harvested through large information systems investments. While the business case for investing in large technology programmes has been thoroughly investigated, the human agent that causes value erosion through his interaction with information systems (IS), has not received the studied attention it deserves. This study examines the use of technology in organisations by considering the dichotomy inherent in IS where its introduction for the purposes of creating new or sustaining existing business value subsequently also inadvertently dissipates value. The study proceeds to investigate the root people-induced causes resulting in the unintentional dissipation of value and presents an empirically validated model suggesting that human agents do not only create value for organisations through their use of IS, but at the same time, deliberately or inadvertently, dissipate value. The root people-induced causes resulting in the unintentional dissipation of value is delineated within a Theoretical Technology Value Framework that is constructed from a review of the extant literature, and delineates the overall unintentional value destroying causes and effects of IS on organisations. The Theoretical Technology Value Framework is forthwith applied as a basis for the development of a set of questions to support both qualitative and quantitative investigations from which an Archetypical Technology Value Model was derived. Finally, an Archetypical Technology Value Model is presented as a benchmark and basis to identify, investigate, mitigate and minimise or eliminate the unintentional value destroying effects of IS on Information Technology driven organisations. The study concludes with implications for both theory and practice and suggestions on how value erosion through the activities of the human agent may be identified, modeled and mitigated. Ultimately, recommendations are offered towards the crafting of more effective IS. / School of Computing / Ph. D. (Information Systems)

Les performances en mathématiques sont associées à de nombreux enjeux dans notre société, des enjeux de nature individuelle et des enjeux de nature sociétale. Malgré le fait que les élèves québécois réussissent très bien sur la scène internationale en mathématiques, dans le cadre des évaluations à grande échelle en éducation, les analyses selon le genre, elles, font état d’écarts préoccupants. En effet, à plusieurs des cycles de ces grandes enquêtes, les filles ont obtenu des résultats statistiquement inférieurs à ceux des garçons. L’anxiété mathématique, pourrait expliquer, à tout le moins en partie, les écarts de performances observés entre les filles et les garçons (Stoet et al., 2016). En effet, les recherches menées sur le sujet depuis les années 70 révèlent que, de manière générale, chez les adolescents et les adultes, les filles ont tendance à se dire davantage anxieuses à l’égard des mathématiques que les garçons (p.ex. Else-Quest et al., 2010; Hyde et al., 1990; Stoet et al. 2016). Également, dans ces mêmes groupes d’âge, une corrélation linéaire négative est observée entre le niveau d’anxiété mathématique des individus et leurs performances en mathématiques (p.ex. Barroso et al.,2021; Hembree, 1990; Ma, 1999; Zhang et al., 2019). En 2003 et en 2012, le PISA s’est intéressé à l’anxiété mathématique. En effet, comme les mathématiques ont constitué le domaine majeur d’évaluation lors de ces deux enquêtes, l’anxiété mathématique a été documentée, à ces occasions, au même titre que bon nombre d’autres facteurs non-cognitifs liés aux performances dans le domaine. Le portrait canadien, issu du PISA de 2003 et de 2012, supporte et renforce l’idée selon laquelle l’anxiété mathématique pourrait contribuer aux écarts de performance observés entre les garçons et les filles, en mathématiques, au Québec. Devant l’absence de portrait québécois en regard du phénomène, et souhaitant, à terme, fournir des leviers en vue de réduire les écarts de performances observés entre les filles et les garçons québécois, nous énonçons l’objectif général de recherche comme suit : quantifier les écarts d’anxiété mathématique entre les filles et les garçons, étudier le lien anxiété mathématique/performances en mathématiques et ensuite, identifier des facteurs ayant le potentiel de réduire les écarts d’anxiété mathématique observés, chez les élèves québécois francophones de 15 ans, à partir d’une analyse secondaire des données du PISA de 2003 et de 2012. Afin de répondre à cet objectif général de recherche, nous définissons trois objectifs spécifiques de recherche. Chacun d’eux est traité dans un des trois articles de cette thèse par articles. Le premier objectif spécifique de notre recherche vise à identifier les considérations méthodologiques inhérentes aux données issues du PISA et à proposer des techniques d’analyse qui permettent de les traiter, adéquatement. Cet objectif spécifique est traité dans le premier article, un article de nature méthodologique. Les deuxième objectif spécifique de notre recherche vise à quantifier les écarts d’anxiété mathématique entre les garçons et les filles francophones de 15 ans du Québec, à partir d’une analyse secondaire des données du PISA de 2003 et de 2012, et à étudier le lien négatif anxiété mathématique/performances en mathématiques, chez ces mêmes élèves. Cet objectif spécifique est traité dans le second article de la thèse, un article de nature empirique, qui prend appui sur les fondements méthodologiques proposés dans l’article 1. Le troisième objectif spécifique de notre recherche vise à identifier des facteurs qui permettent d’expliquer les écarts d’anxiété mathématique observés entre les garçons et les filles francophones du Québec et qui ont le potentiel de guider, à terme, la mise en œuvre d’interventions visant à réduire les écarts observés. Répondre à cet objectif spécifique fait l’objet du troisième article de la thèse. Cet article prend également appui sur les fondements méthodologiques exposés dans l’article 1. Des résultats issus de l’article 2, il ressort que : 1) en moyenne, les filles francophones de 15 ans du Québec font état d’un niveau d’anxiété mathématique statistiquement plus élevé que les garçons et 2) le lien entre l’anxiété mathématique et les performances en mathématiques est un lien négatif et équivalent entre les garçons et les filles francophones du Québec. Des résultats issus de l’article 3, il ressort que les écarts d’anxiété mathématique observés entre les filles et les garçons québécois francophones ayant participé au PISA de 203 et de 2012 pourraient s’expliquer par : 1) un concept de soi en mathématiques plus faible chez les filles et 2) un lien direct genre/anxiété mathématique. Des implications scientifiques et pratiques de ces résultats découlent des recommandations en vue de réduire les écarts d’anxiété mathématique observés entre les filles et les garçons francophones du Québec, de même que des avenues de recherche à explorer dans le futur. Ces recommandations et avenues de recherches sont présentées au terme de la thèse. / Performance in mathematics is linked to a number of issues in our society, both individual and societal. Even though Quebec students are doing very well internationally in mathematics, in large-scale educational assessments, gender-based analyses reveal disturbing gaps. Over the course of several cycles of these large-scale surveys, girls achieved statistically lower results than boys. Mathematics anxiety could at least partially explain the performance gaps observed between girls and boys (Stoet et al., 2016). Indeed, research conducted since the 1970s has shown that, in general, in adolescents and adults, girls tend to report greater anxiety about mathematics than boys (e.g.Else-Quest et al., 2010; Hyde et al., 1990; Stoet et al. 2016). Furthermore, in these same age groups, there is a negative linear correlation between individuals' level of anxiety in mathematics and their performance in mathematics (e.g.Hembree, 1990; Ma, 1999; Zhang et al., 2019). In 2003 and 2012, PISA turned its attention to mathematics anxiety. Indeed, since mathematics was the main domain of assessment in both surveys, mathematical anxiety was documented on these occasions, along with many other non-cognitive factors related to performance in the domain. The Canadian portrait, from both the 2003 and 2012 PISA surveys, supports and reinforces the idea that mathematics anxiety could explain, at least in part, the observed performance gaps between boys and girls in mathematics in Quebec. Given the absence of a Quebec portrait of the phenomenon, and wishing, in the long run, to provide levers for reducing the observed performance gaps between Quebec girls and boys, we state the general research objectives as follows: 1) quantify the gaps between girls and boys with respect to mathematics anxiety, 2) study the link between mathematics anxiety and mathematical performance, and finally 3) identify factors that may reduce the gaps observed in mathematical anxiety among 15-year-old French-speaking students in Québec, based on a secondary analysis of the 2003 and 2012 PISA data. 7 In order to meet this overall research objective, three specific research objectives are identified. Each of these is discussed in one of the three articles of the present thesis per article. The first specific objective of our research is to identify the methodological considerations inherent to the PISA data and to propose analytical techniques that will allow us to adequately address them. This specific objective is discussed in the first article, a methodology article. The second specific objective of our research is to quantify the differences in mathematical anxiety between 15-year-old French-speaking boys and girls in Quebec, based on a secondary analysis of the 2003 and 2012 PISA data, and to investigate the negative relation between mathematical anxiety and mathematical performance in these same students. This specific objective is discussed in the second article of the thesis, an empirical article, which is based on the methodological bases proposed in Article 1. The third specific objective of our research is to identify factors that contribute to explaining the differences observed in mathematical anxiety between French-speaking boys and girls in Quebec and have the potential to guide, over the long run, the implementation of interventions aimed at reducing the observed gaps. The third paper in the thesis focuses on this specific objective. This article is also based on the methodological bases set out in Article 1. The results of Article 2 show that: 1) on average, French-speaking 15-year-old girls in Quebec report a statistically higher level of mathematical anxiety than boys and 2) the relationship between mathematical anxiety and mathematical performance is negative and equivalent between French-speaking boys and girls in Quebec. From the results of Article 3, it appears that the differences in mathematical anxiety observed between Quebec French-speaking girls and boys who participated in PISA 2003 and 2012 can be explained by: 1) a lower perception of mathematical competence among girls and 2) a direct gender/mathematical anxiety link. The scientific and practical implications of these results lead to recommendations to reduce the differences observed in mathematical anxiety among French-speaking girls and boys in Quebec, as well as lines of future research. These recommendations and lines of research are presented at the end of the thesis.

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This thesis investigates the current interrelationship between the provisions contained in the Swedish Company Act (2005:551) and activities related to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pursued by companies listed at Nasdaq Stockholm. The focal point of this thesis could be argued to be of particular relevance in this day and age, as companies listed at Nasdaq Stockholm continue to perform at the top of the league in global sustainability performance measurements, and Swedish and European legislators have intensified their efforts to encourage businesses to operate in a way that does not incur unacceptable social costs to society. Thus, most companies, particularly those with a vested interest in the private consumer market, seem to recognise the importance of fostering long-term relationships with a wide sphere of stakeholders. The purpose of the thesis has been to contribute to the steadily increasing body of legal research that discusses to what extent Swedish companies, without breaching corporate law, could involve themselves in CSR investments. Since I, initially, conclude that Swedish publicly listed companies seem to increasingly invest in activities related to CSR, the thesis also discusses whether the relevant provisions of the SCA need to change to better adapt to companies’ involvement in CSR activities. In brief, I argue, that current business research on CSR coupled with the aforementioned relevant provisions of the SCA allow boards and managing directors to pursue practically any CSR investments, and that shareholders are mostly restricted to rely on relatively blunt ex post actions against a board and/or managing director that has pursued an ill-considered CSR investment, including the obvious choices of voting to replace the board or selling their shares. And since current business research has not consistently proven the positive impact of CSR policies on the financial performance of businesses there are reasons to suspect that the law practically, due to the shielding force of the business judgment rationale and the legislator’s wish to protect most transactions, cannot be effectively applied to stop CSR investments, even if these are nothing but costs for the business. On the other hand, the findings of the thesis also suggest that the occurrence of such unwise CSR investments is not necessarily a proliferating problem, since many companies listed at Nasdaq Stockholm nowadays have powerful and short-sighted institutional owners. The situation might therefore very well be the opposite and that executives struggle to manage for the long-term, as the logic of the market tell them to do otherwise. / Den här examensuppsatsen utforskar förhållandet mellan några av aktiebolagslagens regler och det engagemang som bolag noterade på Nasdaq Stockholm uppvisar i frågor rörande Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Ämnet kan sägas vara särskilt relevant då såväl det samtida näringslivet som lagstiftaren tycks präglas av en ökad medvetenhet kring CSR-frågor. Den ökade medvetenheten i näringslivet förefaller alltmer inverka på affärsbeslut, ett faktum som inte minst avspeglas i de svenska bolagens topplaceringar i globala index som mäter bolags arbete med hållbarhetsfrågor. Samtidigt speglas lagstiftarens ökade medvetenhet av allt fler svenska som europeiska regulatoriska initiativ på området och vars yttersta syfte är att uppmuntra och stimulera hållbara företag som inte pådyvlar samhället oacceptabla sociala kostnader. Det är således inte särskilt anmärkningsvärt att bolagen, i synnerhet de med intressen anknutna till konsumentmarknaderna, tycks erkänna vikten av att bygga och underhålla långsiktiga relationer med en vidare krets av intressenter än deras aktieägare. Det är min förhoppning att den här uppsatsen kommer att bidra till den ständigt växande del av den aktiebolagsrättsliga diskursen som diskuterar till vilken grad bolag, utan att handla i strid med ABL:s bestämmelser, kan företa åtgärder kopplade till CSR. Eftersom jag inledningsvis anför att bolagen på Nasdaq Stockholm tycks ägna sig allt mer åt CSR diskuterar också uppsatsen om några av ABL:s bestämmelser bör förändras för att bättre hantera dessa företags allt större engagemang i CSR-frågor. Sammanfattningsvis argumenterar jag för att nuvarande företagsekonomisk forskning kring CSR tillsammans med de aktuella bestämmelsernas juridiska innebörd innebär att såväl bolagsstyrelser som verkställande direktörer kan företa i princip vilken investering relaterad till CSR som helst. Aktieägare är i praktiken hänvisade till att söka åstadkomma långsiktigt lönsamma satsningar på hållbarhet genom sanktioner ex post, exempelvis genom att sälja sina aktier eller rösta bort styrelsen. Detta innebär å ena sidan i praktiken, med tanke på att nuvarande företagsekonomisk forskning kring CSR:s inverkan på bolags vinster är tvetydig, att de relevanta bestämmelserna i ABL såsom de nu är utformade utgör en trygg hamn även för många av de transaktioner relaterade till CSR som är direkt värdeförstörande. Å andra sidan argumenterar jag i uppsatsen för att problemet med överinvesteringar i CSR inte nödvändigtvis behöver vara särskilt utbrett då bolagen och deras bolagsstyrning allt mer kommit att präglas av kortsiktiga investeringsperspektiv.