Abstract In order to increasing competitiveness, one of the most important trends is popularity of merges among Taiwanese firms. Many possible merges, however, were terminated before realization. This study finds that the completion rate is only about one fifth for all merging cases. This study compares four cases to understand reasons why corporations terminate merges before completing the merging processes. The four cases are ¡§Sampo and TECO¡¨, ¡§Twinhead and Uniwill¡¨, ¡§Yuen Foong Yu and Chung Hwa Pulp¡¨, and ¡§First Commerical Bank, Ta An Bank and Pan Asia Bank.¡¨ Collecting and analyzing data and reports from printed medias, this research finds that pursuing economy of scale and increasing market power are two most important motivations for corporate merges. There are seven important reasons for merge terminations: Intention of major shareholders, Share swap proportion, Management right, Opposition from employees, Regulations, Government intervention, and Politicians¡¦ influences.

The aim of this thesis is to investigate the acquisition of different elements of process control skills and how the transfer between task elements contributes to the acquisition of the overall task. Process control tasks are very complex cognitive tasks consisting of a number of subordinate task elements such as procedure-following, diagnosis, & monitoring, whose execution must be planned carefully in order to meet the system goal. In the past, research emphasis has focused upon training these subordinate tasks separately, ignoring the possibility that performance at one element would benefit from or interfere with mastery of another. Understanding these possible 'internal transfer' phenomena will influence training design. It would also influence issues of work design, including allocation of functions, since tasks designed to enable practice of the constituent elements to support each other would counterbalance problems associated with infrequent use of skills in automated plants. This thesis has focused upon the development of training methods to optimise transfer of knowledge and skills, assisting trainees to integrate different task elements within the overall process control task they need to master. The transfer of training literature was reviewed in order to identify major variables influencing transfer. To provide a framework for utilising previous empirical findings in examining transfer of complex process control skills, a model of Hierarchical Task Analysis was developed which described the task in terms of a limited number of operations and plans. A major hypothesis put forward in the thesis is that 'task elements with similar forms of plans and operations may prompt an individual to adopt similar cognitive processes and transfer will be observed'. The size of transfer, however, would be determined by the learning conditions under which the original task elements were acquired. To examine the influence of learning conditions upon transfer of task elements, four training methods were developed based upon a theoretical model of transfer which was integrated with the hierarchical task analysis. A large scale experiment was conducted in order to investigate the effects of the four training methods upon learning two similar tasks, in the context of starting-up a distillation column. This task was simulated in a microcomputer. The two tasks were designed to share common task elements but were different in terms of the required product specifications. Twenty-eight postgraduate students took part in a training course which lasted for eight hours approximately. The subjects were assigned to the following four experimental conditions: (i) the procedures-group which was provided with efficient procedures; (ii) the analysis-group which received additional explanations about the interaction of goals described in the procedures; (iii) the model-group which was provided with a structural model of the plant, but with no procedures; and (iv) the practice-group which learned the tasks by practice and which was used as a control condition. The model of learning was used to make transfer predictions and generate five experimental hypotheses which were tested in the main study; one hypothesis was concerned with the acquisition of the original task, two of them with the transfer of task elements and the other two with nonspecific transfer effects. For a number of performance measures such as speed, control performance and economy of operation, the procedures- and analysis- groups performed the original task better than the other groups. The model-group was faster than the practice-group; however, their control and economy aspects of performance were equivalent. An 'in-depth' analysis of the control actions and verbal protocols showed that the model-group continued to experiment with' the process, putting into practice the theory of plant which was taught to them. Performance at the transfer task indicated that all groups performed better than the practice-group, which provides support for the hypothesis that 'task elements similar in form may prompt an individual to adopt similar cognitive processes and transfer may occur'. However, the procedures-group degraded its performance and appeared to be inferior to both the analysis- and modelgroups, which may indicate that some kind of extrinsic information in the form of planning or conceptual knowledge would be required to optimise transfer. On the other hand, the analysis-group was faster than the model-group, but no significant differences were reported with respect to other measures of performance. On practice with a successive transfer task of the same kind, the observed patterns of performance changed. Only the analysis-group was significantly better than the practice-group, the other groups having scored in between these two groups. This finding has highlighted the role of practice in an interactive learning environment provided by the plant simulator. Although the experimental design attempted to control for nonspecific transfer effects by maximising the number of 'common' task elements between the original and transfer tasks, the individual differences observed and the changes in the kind of plans developed by trainees have indicated that such transfer effects have actually taken place. This was expected to occur to a certain extent, and two hypotheses had been formulated in order to examine this issue by looking into the types of planning and conceptual knowledge which supported transfer. As it was expected, the analysis- and model- groups achieved higher nonspecific transfer scores than the other groups which were measured in terms of the amount of disturbance caused to previously established parameters and the number of questions answered in a questionnaire administered in the end of the study. An interesting result, however, was that the practice-group appeared to be better than the procedures-group in this respect; this may be accounted for by the fact that the former group was more actively engaged in learning the original task. Finally, the thesis has investigated the transfer of the three subordinate goals common to both the original and transfer tasks. An important factor which has influenced the different degrees at which these goals were transferred was the degree of flexibility entailed in their performance. The thesis concludes with an evaluation of its own approach and suggestions for future research.

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This thesis concerns the economic dimensions of second language knowledge and acquisition and the economic implications of language policies. The value of the ability to speak and understand a second language depends on the extent to which it enlarges one's communicative sphere which, in turn, depends on the language abilities of others. This implies that second language acquisition decisions are associated with strategic considerations and spillover effects. Consequently, the equilibrium distribution of language skills may not be socially efficient and policy remedies may be called for. The first essay of the thesis investigates the relationship between earnings, second language knowledge and the distribution of language skills in local labour markets in Canada using census data. We estimate the elasticity of local language complementarity in earnings: a parameter that measures the importance of the linguistic environment in the earnings of the individual as well as the importance of language in the economy generally. The second essay addresses the efficiency of second language acquisition decisions in a theoretical model where bilingualism is rewarded with a higher wage for two reasons. First, language skills constitute a form of human capital in the sense that a worker's productivity is positively related to the proportion of the population with whom she shares a language. Second, language skills serve as a signal of productivity to employers. In general, the private and social benefits of bilingualism do not align due to counteracting network and signalling welfare effects. The third essay concerns the role of language policy in improving social outcomes. A tax-subsidy system is considered under various assumptions about the ability of the government or planner to discriminate between individuals and groups. A Pareto improvement is possible if the government can condition the tax-subsidy system on language acquisition costs but not otherwise. The fourth essay considers the optimal provision of public services when individuals' effective consumption of the services depends on their proficiency in the language they are provided in. The planner faces a trade-off between compensating minority language speakers for their lower wages and encouraging their integration by rewarding higher levels of dominant language proficiency. / Thesis (Ph.D, Economics) -- Queen's University, 2013-06-06 12:06:34.747

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Aleksan Shanoyan / The fresh produce retail market is becoming increasingly competitive and the need to cut costs in order to invest in retail prices and innovations is critical. Seasonality of commodities cause market shoulders where retailers face increased prices and an insecure supply base with risk of being out of product. The implications of paying more than competitors or not having a product on the shelf can risk losing a customer’s business to a competitor. This thesis is an analysis of procurement strategies by retailers in the fresh produce industry, in order to maximize efficiency by reducing cost of goods and securing supply. Specifically, this thesis will analyze different procurement strategies for procuring lemons out of the California San Joaquin Valley. The analysis will compare traditional market buys vs a vertically integrated procurement model in which the retailer procures farm land and controls the commodity from farm to store shelf. While the fresh produce industry has had an evolution over the past century, models of procurement are not following other industries in advancements such as innovations from technology, genetics and sustainability. By advancing procurement models the industry has the potential to not only benefit farmers and retailers but also deliver the customer a fresher product at a reduced price. The objective of this project is to investigate the ways to minimize commodity costs for the retailer and gain security of supply by analyzing procurement strategies for procuring lemons from California. This project is intended to support the fresh produce supply chain and specifically the retailer to optimize their procurement model. To determine an optimal strategy this project will compare and contrast traditional market buys vs a vertically integrated strategy. This is to determine if vertically integrating this commodity in a retailer supply chain would result in a net reduction of cost. Also, this project will determine if security of supply is gained through vertical integration vs traditional market buys. This project will consider variables such as market prices, supply/demand, sustainability and other industry implications. The data examined includes retail pricing and costs, farm production and cost, property market values, and other variables and inputs. The methods of analyzing the data include profitability scenarios throughout multiple procurement models for retailers to determine an optimal procurment model. As a result of the data and methods it is determined that there is an opportunity throughout the produce supply chain for retailers to shift away from traditional procurement models. This project’s proposed land acquisition procurement model is an alternative strategy that can supplement traditional procurement model and would potentially reduce cost of goods and improve supply reliability. This vertically integrated procurement model creates supply chain efficiencies and reduces cost for the retailer along with increasing the retailer's security of supply in the fresh produce commodity market. This analysis should serve as a basis and guide for retailers to determine their company’s optimal procurement model.

Under 1900-talet har företagsfusioner förekommit i vågformade mönster där tider med lugnare aktivitet har avlösts av tider med något som närmast kan beskrivas som fusionsyra. Fusionsvågornas antal och storlek har efterhand ökat och vågtopparna har vuxit sig allt högre, något som inte minst varit tydligt under de senaste 6-7 åren Vilka är de motiv som har gjort fusioner till ett så vanligt förekommande strategiskt agerande? Finns det likheter inom och mellan branscher avseende motiven att fusionera? Det empiriska materialet består av primär- och sekundärdata insamlat från sex fusioner fördelat på tre branscher; tillverkningsindustrin, bankbranschen och IT-branschen. I analysen används tre skilda perspektiv, och syftet med detta är att skapa bred förståelse och belysa komplexiteten i fenomenet. Resultaten visar på tydliga likheter i motiv inom branscher, samt att det även finns vissa motiv som är branschöverskridande. Vidare innebär de tre perspektiven ett medningsfullt sätt att skapa förståelse och belysa komplexiteten kring motiv till fusioner. / During the twentieth century, mergers&aquisitions have occured in waves where times of low activityfrequently has turned into periods of high activity. M&A:s have been of increasing numbers and growing size, which was extra evident during the last wave during the 1990:s. What are the motives that has made M&A such a widely used strategy? Are there similarities within and across industries regarding merger motives? The empirical material consists of primary and secundary data collected from two mergers in three industries respectively; manufacturing, banking and IT. The analysis make use of three different perspectives, the reason for this being to create understanding and furthermore illuminate the complexity of the problem. The results clearly demonstrate similarities in merger motives within the industries, but also give some support for similarities across the industries. Furthermore, using a multi perspective approach has proved to be a good way of illuminating the problem.

<p>Under 1900-talet har företagsfusioner förekommit i vågformade mönster där tider med lugnare aktivitet har avlösts av tider med något som närmast kan beskrivas som fusionsyra. Fusionsvågornas antal och storlek har efterhand ökat och vågtopparna har vuxit sig allt högre, något som inte minst varit tydligt under de senaste 6-7 åren Vilka är de motiv som har gjort fusioner till ett så vanligt förekommande strategiskt agerande? Finns det likheter inom och mellan branscher avseende motiven att fusionera? Det empiriska materialet består av primär- och sekundärdata insamlat från sex fusioner fördelat på tre branscher; tillverkningsindustrin, bankbranschen och IT-branschen. I analysen används tre skilda perspektiv, och syftet med detta är att skapa bred förståelse och belysa komplexiteten i fenomenet. Resultaten visar på tydliga likheter i motiv inom branscher, samt att det även finns vissa motiv som är branschöverskridande. Vidare innebär de tre perspektiven ett medningsfullt sätt att skapa förståelse och belysa komplexiteten kring motiv till fusioner.</p> / <p>During the twentieth century, mergers&aquisitions have occured in waves where times of low activityfrequently has turned into periods of high activity. M&A:s have been of increasing numbers and growing size, which was extra evident during the last wave during the 1990:s. What are the motives that has made M&A such a widely used strategy? Are there similarities within and across industries regarding merger motives? The empirical material consists of primary and secundary data collected from two mergers in three industries respectively; manufacturing, banking and IT. The analysis make use of three different perspectives, the reason for this being to create understanding and furthermore illuminate the complexity of the problem. The results clearly demonstrate similarities in merger motives within the industries, but also give some support for similarities across the industries. Furthermore, using a multi perspective approach has proved to be a good way of illuminating the problem.</p>

En ökande andel elever i den svenska skolan har inte svenska som modersmål. För att dessa elever ska klara kurserna och utveckla sitt svenska språk krävs att skolan möter de behov av språkundervisning som uppstår t.ex. genom att även ämnesundervisningen blir mer språkutvecklande och ord och begrepp explicit förklaras. Syftet med denna interventionsstudie var att testa hur gynnsamma två olika undervisningsmetoder är för undervisning av ord och begrepp inom ämnesundervisning för avancerade inlärare. De ord som användes i studien var hämtade ur en lärobok för vård- och omsorgsprogrammet, främst abstrakta begrepp men inte direkt ämnesspecifika. Två grupper bestående av komvuxelever deltog i interventionsstudien där de två grupperna undervisades på olika sätt. En grupp undervisades om orden med en deduktiv undervisningsmetod där inlärarna presenterades färdiga svar av läraren och den andra  gruppen undervisades med en induktiv undervisningsmetod där inlärarna själva, i ett socialt samspel, fick arbeta sig fram till svaren. Ett VKS-test genomfördes före undervisningen för att skapa en base line och samma test användes sedan som eftertest för att se effekten av de respektive undervisningsmetoderna. Studien visar att den deduktiva undervisningsmetoden, när eleverna fick färdiga förklaringar, gav bäst resultat i jämförelse med den induktiva undervisningen där eleverna i i små grupper förhandlade sig fram till innebörden och tränade på användningen av orden. Resultatet av studien står i stark kontrast till Skolverkets rekommendationer för undervisning i den svenska skolan. Att den deduktiva undervisningsmetoden var effektivast kan möjligtvis hänga samman med att kunskapen om orden i förtestet var ganska låg, vilket borde tyda på att kunskapsökningen mest bestod i att testpersonerna lärde sig betydelsen av ordet och att det inte i så stor utsträckning handlade om att de lärde sig att använda orden produktivt.

L’objectif de cette thèse est de proposer une méthode de mesure précise d’une période radioactive de l’ordre de quelques secondes. L’acquisition numérique temps réel FASTER permet d’accéder aux caractéristiques physiques du signal induit par la détection de chaque désintégration lors de la décroissance radioactive. La sélection des données de comptage peut se faire par une analyse optimisée post-expérience. Ainsi, après avoir établi les facteurs d’influence de la mesure (variation d’empilements, de gain des tubes photomultiplicateurs, de la ligne de base électronique), il est possible, a posteriori, de calculer leur impact sur l’estimation de la période radioactive, et de choisir un seuil en énergie déposée, ainsi qu’un temps mort qui minimisent leurs influences. Cette thèse propose, par ailleurs, une méthode pour mesurer, puis compenser les variations de ses grandeurs. Cette méthode a été appliquée pour l’estimation de la période radioactive du 19Ne avec une incertitude relative de 1,2.10-4 : T1/2=17,2569(21) s. / The aim of this thesis is to propose a method for precise half-life measurements adapted to nuclides with half-lives of a few seconds. The FASTER real-time digital acquisition system gives access to the physical characteristics of the signal induced by the detection of each decay during the counting period following beam implantation. The selection of the counting data can be carried out by an optimized post-experimental offline analysis. Thus, after establishing the influence factors impacting the measurement (pile up, gain and base line fluctuations), we are able to estimate, a posteriori, their impact on the half-life estimation. This way, we can choose the deposited energy threshold and dead time in order to minimize their effect. This thesis also proposes a method for measuring and then compensating for influence factors variations. This method was applied to estimate the 19Ne half-life with a relative uncertainty of 1.2 10-4 leading to T1 / 2 = 17.2569 (21) s. This is the most precise measurement to date for this isotope.