This thesis provides an empirical investigation on how different public listing locations affect the CEO (chief executive officer)’s pay of Chinese SOEs (State Owned Enterprises) and whether such a pay differential would in turn affect the listing location choice by those firms, which have not received much attention in the current literature. In particular, we focus on two stock markets, the mainland (including Shenzhen and Shanghai) A-share market and Hong Kong H-share market. Unlike what have been found in many other markets, where firms listed in the foreign markets can normally enjoy a price premium, Chinese firms listed in the Hong Kong market (H-share) usually face a discount in prices comparing to what they can get in the domestic stock markets (A-share). So it is a real puzzle why they are eager to be listed in Hong Kong. Explanations have been sought in the past regarding to access to international capital markets and reputation or image effects for the Chinese firms. Our study contributes to the current oversea-listing literature by examining CEOs’ personal factors that affect listing location choice of SOEs in China. In this thesis, we aim to examine the association between CEO’s pay and different listing locations. Our sample covers all the Chinese listed SOEs in both A-share and H-share over the period of 1990-2009. First, we examined the effect of different listing locations on CEO’s pay and found that a positive CEO’s pay differential exists for H-share listing other things being equal, which means a wage premium for H-share CEOs. Furthermore, our evidences also support the hypothesis that such a wage premium does provide an incentive for CEOs to choose to list in Hong Kong.

This thesis includes estimating the probability of informed trading, PIN, developed by Easley, Kiefer and O’Hara (1996, 1997a, 1997b), for a large sample of listed firms in China from 2002 to 2008, and I use PIN to explore two independent research questions in corporate finance. First, the probability of informed trading is applied to explain the discount in value for firms with diversified business operations. Although aiming to increase firm value, the corporate diversification decision usually results in a firm value discount, for a variety of reasons, one of which is the transparency problem. My study directly tests the relation between the information asymmetry revealed from the stock market and the firm value discount due to diversification decision. The results show that the corporate diversification decisions result in a lower firm value in China, mainly because the diversified firms suffer from a higher level of information asymmetry or a lower level of transparency. After controlling for the measure of information asymmetry, the strategy of diversification itself does not reduce firm value. Second, the probability of informed trading is applied to explain the payperformance sensitivity of CEO compensation in Chinese listed firms. The payperformance sensitivity measures the change in managerial compensation based on the change in shareholder wealth. A higher information asymmetry helps and encourages shareholders to spend more on incentivizing the management team. My results show that higher level information asymmetry is associated with higher payperformance sensitivity of CEOs in China. The result also holds if information asymmetry is approximated by analysts’ forecast errors. According to the estimates of PIN in this thesis, Chinese firms are shown to exhibit a higher level of information asymmetry than what has been found in the U.S. market. The thesis ends with a brief discussion of the results and what future research could follow.

En kvalitativ studie har genomförts där vi arbetat utefter baklängesmetoden. Semistrukturerade intervjuer har använts som metod för insamling av empiri. Totalt har tio intervjuer genomförts med olika chefer inom olika organisationer. Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur chefsrollen upplevs och vad rollen innebär utifrån ett chefsperspektiv. Resultaten visar att chefsrollen är en roll som kräver tydligt närvarande och i viss mån situationsbaserat ledarskap. / A qualitative study has been made by using the backwards method. Ten semi structuredinterviews were used as a method of data collection. The interviewed persons have the role as a CEO or manager at different organizations. The main purpose with this study is to examine how their role is being experienced in the perspective of the interviewed persons. The study also aims to find out what the role means in real life. The result shows that the role comprises a leadership with clear goals. It also comprises that it is important to be in contact with the employees by using situational leadership.

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / Integration of indigenous leaders into modem political structures and process of local government has been a source of contention for several decades on the African continent. This study describes, analyses and assesses efforts made by postcolonial, apartheid and the liberal democratic government to incorporate indigenous leaders in their governmental structures and processes. Based on this examination, the study presents elements of a model on how a democratic South Africa could in grate indigenous leaders into the current liberal democratic structures, especially in rural municipal authorities of the Northern Province. Data used for the study was collected from government documents, articles, law books and anthropological sources. In the discussion and analysis, attempts were made, wherever appropriate to cite experiences of other African countries. Such experiences were designed to inform certain aspects of this study, especially in the manner in which traditional leaders were integrated into local government. Further, data regarding current attitudes among stakeholders were collected from questionnaires administered to women, youth, traditional leaders, national, provincial and local government officials and legislators The study revealed several aspects of leadership such as the system employed by French and British colonizers (i.e. 'direct' and 'indirect' rule system). These colonial powers both identified traditional rulers as a link between their governments and indigenous communities. To confirm this, both appointed puppet traditional rulers and deposed authentic traditional rulers who were opposed to colonial rule. Since traditional leaders form part of indigenous people's background, colonial powers subjected indigenous rulers stances at different places. If traditional rulers were conquered, their powers were drastically reduced, suppressed, their power-base was weakened and authority on land and matters of justice were usurped. On the other hand, those traditional rulers who signed treaties with the colonial government received favours such as sending their family members abroad to further their education and the traditional ruler retained the status of 'King'. The British government introduced a policy of indirect rule. This rule had echoed even in South Africa after the British rule through to the days of apartheid. This rule prescribed that each tribe was to be supervised by a Paramount chief for centralized authority with sub-chiefs who were in charge of regions. This system continued through the apartheid era. The current democratic government has entrenched in the constitution a provision for the recognition of the institution of traditional rulers, but it lacks clarity on the role and function of traditional leaders at local government level. Thus, chiefs ought to be genuinely engaged in modem governance and face realities of change and adapt to the new order for their future existence and continue serving their communities in the northern province in particular and South Africa in general.

Stock options increasingly feature as part of CEO compensation, and there is evidence that CEOs of South African listed target companies engage in the practice of awarding themselves more options prior to takeover. This finding is consistent with CEO behaviour of foreign companies as explained by literature. After the recent financial crisis of 2008, there is a greater likelihood that financially stable companies might consider acquiring struggling companies with attractive potential future earnings. By gaining insight into the practices of stock option grants to CEOs, acquiring companies can ensure fair practice as well as not paying an undue premium for a target company. This study was conducted using a sample of 39 Johannesburg stock exchange (JSE) listed target companies, which were acquired during the period 2005- 2009. The focus was on the number of options awarded prior to the announcement date of the takeover in relation to subsequent options awarded. A median test, together with a Chi-squared test was used to evaluate the independence of option grants prior to acquisition and the actual acquisition transaction. Strong evidence was found that these two activities are not independent. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Durch die Einführung der neuen mosambikanischen Verfassung 1990 und dem allgemeinen Friedensvertrag 1992 wurden die Bedingungen für die Demokratie in Mosambik geschaffen. Unterstützt werden die Demokratisierungsprozesse durch freie lokale Wahlen, Dezentralisie-rung und einem Wandel des öffentlichen und traditionellen Sektors. Parallel dazu entsteht eine Demokratieförderung durch den Staat und eine weitere Ausbildung bzw. Legalisierung der lokalen Gemeinschaftsautoritäten, die auch die ländliche Entwicklung beeinflussen. Die ständigen politischen Instabilitäten, die Marginalisierungen bzw. Ausnutzung der länd-lich-traditionellen Institutionen seit der Kolonialzeit und die schwache Legitimierung der so-zialistisch-marxistischen sowie westlich-demokratischen Institutionen führen in den Städten zu einer Wertekrise hinsichtlich der kulturellen Traditionen, der Geschichte, der öffentlichen Institutionen. Dies beeinflusst sowohl den allgemeinen Demokratisierungsprozess als auch die Entwicklung in den ländlichen Regionen. Jene Krisen-Phänomene um Identität und Legitimation sind nach Annahme zahlreicher For-schungsinstitutionen und Wissenschaftler eine unumgängliche Tatsache (u. a. Ética Moçam-bique, 2003), Ivala, 2003, Agenda 2025, 2004, Lalá & Ostheimer, 2004 und Magode, 2004). Die Ursachen dafür werden gesehen in den Folgen der 500jährigen Kolonialzeit, dem zehn Jahre dauernden Unabhängigkeitkampf, dem 16 Jahre währenden Burgerkrieg, in den politi-schen, Konflikt schürenden Wahlkämpfen, in der politischen Intoleranz gegenüber anderen Parteien oder ethnischen Gruppen, den ununterbrochen Gesetzesübertretungen, einem hohen Korruptionsniveau, in der Respektlosigkeit gegenüber lokalen und nationalen Symbolen, Werten, der Geschichte, Kultur, den Lokalinstitutionen und schließlich in moralische Fragili-täten. Mit der Reform des öffentlichen Sektors1 und der Anerkennung der etwa 5065 traditionellen und lokalen Gemeinschaftsautoritäten2 (autoridades tradicionais, sozialistisches System der Dynamisierungsgruppen) auf der ersten Stufe des Dekrets 15/2000 entsteht parallel zu den demokratischen Strukturen ein duales bzw. multiples System der Staatsverwaltung in den Dorfgemeinschaften und Distrikten. Genau in diesem Kontext entwickelt sich die Demokratisierung.In diesem Spannungsfeld steht auch der zentrale Untersuchungsgegenstand dieser Arbeit, der mit folgenden Fragen umrissen werden kann: In wieweit verzögern bzw. behindern die Spu-ren von Kolonialismus, Marxismus und kulturellen Traditionen die Demokratisierungsprozes-se in Mosambik? Gibt es auf der ländlichen Ebene Elemente, die mit dem entsprechenden Konzept von Demokratie korrespondieren? Und wenn ja, wie werden sie genutzt? Wie um-fangreich ist die politische Beteiligung der lokalen ländlichen Bevölkerung an den Demokra-tisierungsprozessen. Haben die Mosambikaner in den ländlichen Regionen eine alternative Perspektive bzw. Aussichten auf den Ausbau demokratischer Strukturen und die Entwicklung der ländlichen Institutionen? In einigen Ländern der SADC und des Commonwealth (z.B. Malawi, Uganda, Sambia, Na-mibia etc.) – auch Mosambik ist Mitglied – haben die ländlich-traditionellen Institutionen per Gesetz einen legalisierten Status. Aber trotz des mosambikanischen Dekrets 15/2000 sind die ländlich-traditionellen Institutionen immer noch ein problematisches Thema, das Politiker, Regierende, Wissenschaftler, Journalisten und die Bevölkerung beschäftigt. Dieses demokra-tische Problem spitzt sich regelmäßig zu während jeder exekutiven, legislativen und kommu-nalen Wahlkampagne. Schon ca. sechs Monate vor den ersten Provinzwahlen verschärft sich die Situation; für die ländlichen Regionen handelt es sich dabei um alltägliche Probleme. Die Verankerung der Demokratie auf der ländlichen Ebene wird zu einem Hauptfaktor der ländlichen Entwicklung. Ausgehend von dieser These beabsichtigt diese Forschungsarbeit, Erkenntnisse darüber zu gewinnen, wie die unterschiedlichen Akteure an den Demokratisie-rungsprozessen partizipieren, und welche Lokalinstitutionen, die mit der Reform des öffentli-chen Sektors in Verbindung stehen, dabei zum Tragen kommen.

The work deals with the research of the influence of Free N bacterial preparations (contains selected strains of Azotobacter chroococcum) and Free PK (contains selected strains of Bacillus mulaginosus) and their combinations (Free N + Free PK) on the yield of apples during their intensive cultivation in the orchard. The research took place in 2018 in Agrosad Velké Bílovice on the cultivar 'Super chief', grown in medium-heavy soil and grown-up five-year-old trees. The following indicators were examined: the effect on the amount of five minerals in the fruit (nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, potassium and magnesium). Comparison with the Control showed that bacterial preparations had no effect on increasing the amount of all five substances studied in fruit. Similarly, it was at examining the amount of titratable acids in fruit, the amount of soluble solids, the amount of vitamin C in the fruit, the strength of the fruit peel, and the antioxidant capacity of the peel and pulp of the fruit. Only with the antioxidant capacity of the fruit peel, Free N exceeded the Control, but the comparison was statistically inconclusive. Further indicators were investigated: the effect of bacterial preparations on average apple weight in t/ha, also on apples below and above 70 mm, on average weight of apples in (g) and number of apples on trees. The check was always on the second, third and last place in the impact indicators. The effect of microbial agents (Free N, Free PK, and their combination) was slightly higher than Control. However, the differences were statistically inconclusive.

For an organization to become successful, creating an attractive environment with an atmosphere that both encourages, as well as motivates its employees, is vital. Furthermore, when wanting the employees to reach their optimal performance, good leadership is crucial. A leader’s visions and goals should be communicated to the employees to obtain maximized results within the organization. The research focuses on the motivation within the Swedish Police Department and its existing leadership. This paper aims to analyse and investigate the main motivational tools that are used by the Police Chiefs within the Swedish Police Department for motivating their subordinates. There will also be an investigation of whether the tools used correspond to the officers’ underlying motivation factors.In this paper, three different divisions of the Swedish Police Department were investigated: Field Operations, Criminal Investigations, and Crime Preventions. The reason for using different departments in this study was primarily to better reflect the Swedish Police Department. To answer the research question, a qualitative research method was used along with a data-collection consisting of interviews with a total of twelve respondents. The results showed that the used leadership tools do not fully correspond to police officers' motivation factors.

This qualitative multiple-case study was designed to explore how CEOs in philanthropy learn to make strategic decisions. The study builds off the following premises: (1) as part of their role, CEOs need to make critical decisions in a complex and rapidly changing environment; (2) due to the role of a CEO there are power dynamics at play, and these may have an impact on how CEOs are able to engage in conversation; and (3) due to the staff reporting to the CEO and the CEO reporting to the board, they are essentially peerless within their respective organization, possibly contributing to a sense of isolation. The research site of this study was across a number of organizations, one for each participant. There were three primary sources of data: semi-structured interviews, data collection of publicly available documents, and critical incident reports. Key findings included that: (1) all participants engaged with staff and/or the Board of directors before making a strategic decision, either to obtain buy-in or get information needed to make the decision; (2) informal learning was the primary way participants learned what activities they needed to partake in, in order to make a critical decision; and (3) having full authority and responsibility helped CEOs in their decision-making, while power and other interpersonal dynamics hindered a CEOs ability to make a critical decision. Two main categories of CEOs emerged during the data collection process, those who were deemed Reflective and those who were Action-Oriented. Although not part of this research study’s original design, the data collection took place during the COVID-19 pandemic and also after a resurgence of attention to police brutality against Black people in the United States and other violence towards historically marginalized groups. These themes were prevalent throughout the data gathered for this study and findings and analysis. The overarching recommendation emanating from this research is that succession plans should be put in place in order to best develop potential candidates for the role of CEO.

Studien syftar till att undersöka hur Chief Digital Officer (CDO) arbetar med digital transformation inom den offentliga sektorn. Den forskningsstrategi som har tillämpats i uppsatsen är fallstudie, eftersom att studiens syfte var att undersöka och analysera en specifik roll på djupet. Studien har en kvalitativ karaktär där en fenomenologisk ansats har applicerats då studien tar sin utgångspunkt från flera CDO:s erfarenheter och upplevelser. Studiens datainsamling har bestått av inhämtning av befintlig forskning från vetenskapliga källor och intervjuer. Semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med fem respondenter, som besitter rollen som CDO i en svensk kommun, för att samla in kvalitativ data som utgjorde studiens empiriska material. En av intervjuerna genomfördes med ett frågeformulär som skickades till respondenten via mail. De slutsatser som har kunnat dras utifrån studiens undersökning är att valet av en CDO till största del grundas i personens erfarenheter och delvis i kommunens behov av digital transformation. Det har konstaterats att det är till CDO:s fördel att placeras nära det högst beslutande organet inom kommunen samt att rollen som CDO innebär att agera förändringsledare. Rollens framtid, inom offentlig verksamhet, är oviss då det finns aspekter som pekar på både dess utveckling och avveckling. / The study aims to investigate how the role of the Chief Digital Officer (CDO) adapts the work with digital transformation in the public sector. The research strategy that has been applied in the thesis is case study, since the purpose of the study was to investigate and analyze a specific role. The study is qualitative in which a phenomenological approach has been applied since the study is based on several CDOs’ own experiences. The collection of data has been carried out by existing research from scientific sources and by collecting empirical material from the chosen respondents through semi-structured interviews. One of the interviews was conducted through a mail conversation. All the respondents possessed the role of a CDO in a Swedish municipality. The conclusion that can be made from the study is that the choice of the CDO is largely based on the person’s experiences and partly the municipality’s requirements for digital transformation. It has also been found that it is an advantage for the CDO to be placed close to the decision-maker in the municipality and the role implies to act as a change leader. The future of the role, in the public sector, is unpredictable as there are aspects that point to both its development and settlement.