Rapid internationalization of economic activities takes an important place in the last decades in the world economy. Services make a huge contribution to the international trade and their expansion grows constantly. It is very important nowadays to investigate the internationalization process of business service firms, their motivations and modes of entering into the new unexplored market. Moreover, correct choice of entry mode and evaluation of the incentives can affect the firm’s performance and the duration of the presence in a foreign market. It is also very important to understand the implications of initial mode of operations for different kinds of services.The purpose of this thesis is to gain better understanding of internationalization process of service firms, their incentives to enter new market and choice of entry mode. This is gained by evaluating such service firms that provide financial services as Swedbank and SEB Bank and their international performance in Baltic countries and Ukraine. These chosen companies provide the study cases for this paper.For this study, deductive approach is used in order to observe the theory, empirical findings and then to draw specific conclusion. Empirical data consists of two study cases of Swedbank and SEB Bank. Through the literature review a theoretical framework is developed in order to help the authors evaluate the motives which influence bank´s decision in selecting an entry mode.The findings of this research are that the main incentive of SEB to internationalize is following its customers and increasing market power in order to become a leader in providing financial services. While for Swedbank customer following and profit incentives are identified as crucial ones when going international. The results show that acquisition is an identical entry mode for both banks and is chosen as most sufficient one.Key words: internationalization process of service firms, banks, incentives, entry modes and acquisition.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2006 / This study aims to explore the impact of self-service technologies (SSTs) on the behaviour of Chinese banking customers. The research has two purposes: (l) To determine how perceived risk impacts on the use of SSTs for customers with a high and a low technology readiness index (TRI) and (2) To understand the types of perceived risks within the banking industry and which component of risk dominates customer's propensity to use SSTs. The research focuses on the retail bank SSTs services for the reason that the banking industry has the longest development history in SSTs. The research was conducted using a questionnaire containing two service scenarios (bank information search, fund/money transfer) and was distributed to 372 bank customers, of which a valid sample of 307 respondents was analyzed. The test results indicate the effect of perceived risk does exist. High perceived risk influences high TRI customers to lower their propensity to use the SSTs in the funds transfer and money transfer service scenario, whereas customers with low TRI will tend to lower their propensity to use SSTs in the funds transfer, money transfer and other services. Psychological risk was also identified as the dominant influential risk factor among the respondents. The results support the research hypotheses and highlight the importance for companies to manage perceived risk in this technological era.

Orientador: José Dari Krein / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Economia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T14:58:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Colombi_AnaPaulaFregnani_M.pdf: 2955686 bytes, checksum: e19c0e21f1ae7ecb1b95811efcc5f5a2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho consiste em analisar a atuação do Sindicato dos Bancários e Financiários de São Paulo, Osasco e Região durante os anos 2000 na tentativa de manter sua representatividade perante os trabalhadores e seu reconhecimento diante da sociedade num contexto de profundas mudanças no capitalismo contemporâneo com crescentes desafios à ação coletiva. A dissertação estrutura-se em três momentos: o primeiro visa reconstituir a trajetória da agenda sindical da referida instituição nos diferentes momentos de sua história com o intento de estabelecer um ponto de referência para a análise de sua atuação contemporânea; o segundo enfoca a descrição das atuais mudanças no setor, no conteúdo do trabalho e no perfil da categoria à luz das transformações no capitalismo contemporâneo com o intuito de elucidar os impactos negativos desses processos sobre a capacidade de mobilização coletiva dos bancários; e o terceiro trata da descrição das estratégias adotadas durante os anos 2000 pelo sindicato pesquisado para fazer frente ao cenário de dificuldades imposto à ação coletiva para, por fim, em perspectiva histórica, analisar e dar significação à sua atuação. A pesquisa mostra que a referida instituição logrou levantar as questões consideradas relevantes para a categoria, exercendo sua capacidade de representação dos interesses dos trabalhadores e dialogando com as aspirações dos bancários dentro dos limites colocados pela forma de organização do trabalho, que tende a individualizar e fragmentar os interesses da categoria e dificultar estratégias com sentido universalizante / Abstract: The aim of this research is to analyze the performance of the São Paulo Bank Workers¿ Union during the 2000s, in an attempt to maintain their representativeness and their acceptance in society in a context of deep changes in contemporary capitalism marked by growing challenges to collective action. The dissertation is divided into three parts: the first aims to reconstruct the past trajectory of the São Paulo Bank Workers¿ Union agenda at different times in its history as a way to establish a reference point for the analysis of its contemporary performance; the second focuses on the description of current changes in the banking system, in the profile and tasks of bank workers who have been impacted by the transformation of contemporary capitalism, as a way of highlighting the negative impacts of these processes on the capacity of bank workers to undertake collective mobilizations; and the third describes the strategies adopted during the 2000s by the São Paulo Bank Workers¿ Union as a response to the difficulties in adopting collective actions, as a way of analyzing and giving meaning to their actions in a historical perspective. The research illustrates that the São Paulo Bank Workers¿ Union succeeded in raising issues considered relevant to the profession, exercising its capacity to represent the interests of workers and dialoguing with their aspirations within the limits placed by the new forms of workplace organization that tend to individualize and to fragment the workers' interests, hindering strategies with a more universal scope / Mestrado / Economia Social e do Trabalho / Mestra em Desenvolvimento Econômico

M.Comm. / Warren Buffet, regarded as one of the world's leading investors said (Lowe, 1997:99): "Price is what you pay. Value is what you get." The world and South Africa have seen significant mergers in the financial services industry over the past ten years. Valuation models and results have been extensively debated, but to understand the true value of any company one has to analyse the underlying factors impacting the value. This valuation process can play an important role to determine what the impact of changes in the key ratios of a bank on the value of a bank will be. The main purpose of this study was to develop a valuation model for banks based on key ratios commonly used in banks' financial statements that would enable the quantification of the impact of changes in key ratios on the value of a bank. A literature study of available valuation methods were done to determine valuation theories on which the model could be based. Specific factors relating to valuation of banks were investigated. Key ratios were identified based on analysis of financial statements of banks and banking legislation requirements. A valuation model was developed based on these ratios. A prediction of future key ratios of the four main South African banks were obtained from three analysts and the valuation model tested by comparing the calculated value to the quoted market prices. Changes of 1% were made to key ratios and the impact on the value of each bank determined.

Purpose: The purpose of this research study is to investigate the extent to which banks are using risk management practices in dealing with various risks and to compare risk management practices between Islamic and Conventional banks operating in Pakistan. Methodology: This is an empirical research study which has employed quantitative research methods. This study has used two sources of data, i.e. primary and secondary data. Secondary data is collected by using content analysis through annual reports of five Islamic and conventional banks for the six year time period from 2008 to 2013. The content analysis was performed by using frequency analysis and un-weighted index scoring. And primary data was collected through questionnaire from the senior managers, risk managers and CRO of Islamic and conventional banks. The sample size was consisting of 150 respondents from banks. The data was analysed by using descriptive statistics, regression analysis and Mann-Whitney U test. Findings: Islamic banks are found to be significantly different from their conventional counterparts in risk identification, risk management practices, liquidity risk analysis and risk governance. Moreover, risk identification, risk assessment and analysis, credit risk analysis and risk governance are most influencing and contributing variables in risk management practices of banks operating in Pakistan. Also, credit, liquidity, market and operational risk are found to be the most important risks faced by both conventional and Islamic banks. Practical Implication: Considering the importance of risk management practices in Islamic and conventional banks; Bankers, investors, regulators, and policymakers are likely to benefit from the results of the study as a guide, when developing and reforming the existing risk management practices. Originality: This study has extended the risk management practices model of banks by incorporating two more variables, i.e. liquidity risk analysis and risk governance into the model. Also, it is adding value methodologically, as data triangulation is used to draw a valid inference. So, this study will add value to literature and will be useful for Islamic banks, conventional banks, practitioners as well as for academic point of view.

Growth in information and communication technology (ICT) is drastically changing the way businesses, especially in the service industries, are conducted. The financial services industry and banking in particular, is not excluded from this technology explosion. Internet banking, even though not new in advanced countries, is a new transaction channel being used by banks in some parts of Africa, especially Ghana, to offer various products and services to their customers. However, this medium has not been fully exploited by these banks as there are many hurdles the banks must triumph over. In deploying this technology and these systems, there are several factors which banks must take into consideration before fully deploying such a system to their customers, hence the motivation for this study. The absence of suitable and sufficient knowledge on this topic also exposes a “rhetoric versus reality” argument of whether the intention to adopt Internet banking is critical to the strategies and ultimate success of banks in Ghana. For banks to stay ahead of competition as well as to attract and maintain their clientele, it is of paramount importance to gather and link the perspectives of both clients and bank managers in order for banks to ensure that they perform according to the needs and expectations of their clients. In order to achieve the intended results, an empirical study was conducted by taking into consideration the viewpoints of both bank clients and bank managers in determining the factors that customers take into consideration before adopting the Internet banking medium. The primary aim of this study was to quantify significant relationships between the selected variables. Therefore the positivism research paradigm was used, while the phenomenological paradigm was employed for the measuring instruments. Because multiple sources of data were used, from the perspectives of banking clients and managers in Ghana, methodological triangulation was adopted for this study. The results of the empirical investigation showed that both groups (clients and managers) considered the variables of market share, technology acceptance, diffusion of innovation, organisational variables, organisational efficiency, and business strategy to have direct influence on the adoption of Internet banking. However, they differed in opinion concerning the degree of influence of these variables. The bank managers’ responses leaned more towards strong agreement with the importance of these variables than did those of the bank clients. Thus, for bank clients to readily adopt the Internet banking medium for their banking transactions, bank managers must take a closer look at these determinant factors described in the study. The study showed that the population group, educational and income levels exerted an influence on the perceptions clients have regarding Internet banking adoption factors. It was found that the higher the education and income levels of the clients, the easier it was for them to adopt Internet banking. Also, the male group dominated the use of the Internet banking. This is supported by the fact that there is a growing middle class in Ghana that falls within this category of banking clients.

In this study, the focus will be on the possibility of a lack of learning during execution of projects, which could lead to poor performance in development effectiveness. This study will particularly look at the lessons learnt by individual road infrastructure projects and examine whether or not the learning points were embraced into other projects. The African Development Bank (AfDB) is an example of a multilateral donor agency that predominantly operates in Africa where there are some challenges with aid effectiveness as described earlier. The study is not an attempt to represent the use of lessons learnt and knowledge management in multilateral agencies in general; it is rather a start from which other researchers can build on in order to answer the question: What can donor agencies do to improve aid effectiveness in their project execution? The major contribution of this study is to encourage donor agencies to look at whether their organisations are learning from their different projects as they seek better development effectiveness.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in banking (i.e., the establishment of branches, representative offices, agencies, subsidiaries, or affiliates abroad) is one of the key features of the international monetary system, yet it has received relatively little attention, particularly from empirical researchers. This thesis first reviews the existing work on FDI in banking, and then proposes a theoretical framework for understanding the sources of competitive advantage which lead to multinational banking. This framework integrates earlier work on the theory of financial intermediation with Durming's eclectic theory of FDI. Sources of competitive advantage (Dunning's "ownership-specific advantages") are found to lie in the areas of transaction cost reduction, asset transformation, information production, monitoring, and signalling. Empirical proxies for these variables are then identified. The importance of these variables is then tested using data on foreign banks operating in Japan and Korea. The first test uses survival time analysis (Cox proportional hazards model) to identify the factors associated with early entry into these markets after they were opened to foreign banks. The second uses multinomial logit analysis to examine the factors distinguishing banks which have established a branch or representative office in Japan and Korea from those that have not. The results of the two models are consistent for the most part and are generally in accordance with the predictions of the theory. The final part of the thesis explores the reasons for the strategic choices of the foreign banks in these markets and their relative success in implementing them. A cluster analysis reveals the presence of strategic groups in each market whose membership is broadly consistent with the types of advantages they have, as revealed by a review of the trade press. The most profitable foreign banks are found to be those that pursue niches with high barriers to entry, usually due to a natural advantage such as nationality. Implications for further research are then discussed. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

Banks offer a wide range and variety of services to their commercial customers. Periodically, they analyse the services being utilized by a customer and subsequently enter into negotiations with that customer on the compensation to be provided for services rendered. As a preliminary to the major objective of this study, an argument is presented on the analysis approach that should be utilized by banks to determine compensation requirements and to negotiate these with the customer. The major, study objective is to determine, assess and compare the commercial account analysis procedures of selected United States and Canadian banks. While banks provide a wide range and variety of services to their commercial customers, this study argues that these services are linked by various quantitative and qualitative factors. As such, an all-inclusive analysis or valuation approach should be utilized to determine compensation requirements (a total customer relationship analysis), rather than one which separates the customer into a number of service categories or areas with compensation requirements being determined for each service area separately (a service area analysis). It is also argued that an integral part of the analysis process is profit computation over the total customer relationship. Based upon a literature search, it was determined that certain United States banks utilize an analysis procedure that computes profit over the total customer relationship. Their procedures (profitability analysis) are outlined and the strengths and weaknesses of the procedures are discussed. As only minimal published information was located on the analysis procedures of Canadian banks, research took the form of personal interviews with senior officers of six banks. It was determined that the Canadian banks utilize separate service area analyses and that in no instance is customer profitability computed, either by service area or over the total customer relationship. Rather, the analysis procedures focus attention on the revenues received vis-à-vis the revenues that should have been collected. While a service area approach is utilized, subjective valuations of total customer relationship profitability do occur, under certain circumstances, which may decrease the compensation requirements for that service area by virtue of the value of the total customer, relationship. Canadian bank analysis procedures are extensively outlined as, to the best of the writer's knowledge, this is the first study and documentation of them outside of the Canadian banking system. The procedures are compared to those of the United States banks and the possible reasons for the differences are discussed. Strengths and weaknesses of Canadian procedures are outlined in. relation to those of the United States banks. The study concludes that the Canadian banks could benefit from adoption of a total customer relationship approach to the analysis of their commercial customers. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

Fur trapping, for generations the chief source of income for native people in northern Canada, has seriously declined in recent years. An outstanding exception is the community of Sachs Harbour, Banks Island, N. W. T., where several thousand white fox pelts are harvested annually by 15 to 20 trappers. The thesis analyzes two topics: the cultural ecology of the colonization of Banks Island as a trapping frontier, and the economic geography of trapping and hunting there. Its purposes are to investigate the ecological, economic and social basis of trapping, to understand trapping as an adaptive strategy in particular historical circumstances, and to analyze it as a viable resource system. The study is based on 14 months of field research in the Western Arctic, chiefly at Sachs Harbour, N.W.T. The primary research method was participant observation, although most quantitative data were obtained through semi-formal interviews. Archival research provided additional historical information and statistics. The relative success of the various groups of settlers was strongly related to their previous orientation to white fox trapping, and hence to their place of origin within the Western Arctic. The development of inland trapping was critical to the successful exploitation of the Island, and despite subsequent centralization of settlement, the trappers have expanded their resource hinterland. This is in contrast to developments in other parts of the north. The ecology of the Arctic fox on Banks Island is discussed, and a means of measuring areal exploitation in trapping is devised. The relationship between effort inputs and trapping success are examined. The number of trap checks is the input factor most strongly correlated with the number of foxes caught, with the number of traps set showing the second best correlation. Tentative predictor equations for trapping success are derived for various levels of fox abundance within the population cycle, and for the cycle as a whole. Quantitative analyses of seal, caribou, polar bear and other types of hunting show how these activities are integrated with the total resource system, and provide data for comparison with other Arctic regions. Methods are developed for the calculation of production costs of fur pelts and animal foods (and hence the profitability of trapping and hunting), as well as for the calculation of income in kind. The discussion includes the role of marketing, credit and savings. In conclusion, the resource system on Banks Island is discussed in terms of its ecologic, economic, and social viability - both in relation to the future of trapping on Banks Island itself and to the possibility of this system as a generic type being instituted elsewhere. There is no evidence of overharvesting of any major biological resources on Banks Island, and the number of trappers and the spatial arrangement of their activities appear to be optimal. Trapping provides a good standard of living on Banks Island, and reasonable stability of income seems assured. The Banks Island resource system would thus be ecologically stable and economically viable in other parts of the Arctic with similar resources. Social forces however make such a development unlikely. Social values and occupational aspirations are rapidly changing, especially among young people, and trapping is increasingly devalued as a life style despite its economic potential. The difficulties of recruiting young trappers at Sachs Harbour are noted, and the trapping system is seen as one of decreasing social acceptability all across the north. / Arts, Faculty of / Geography, Department of / Graduate