Globalization and increased growth in international value chains has brought great benefits to developing countries but have at the same time contributed to negative consequences related to human rights violations. Against this background and as a result of increased awareness, companies have been encouraged to take responsibility for their value chain and a framework for due diligence was adopted in 2011 with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The UNGP introduced the first global standard of due diligence and created a non-binding framework for companies to take responsibility and to respect human rights. However, the voluntary aspect of the due diligence process has not had the desired effect as the voluntary approach has had a limited impact on preventing business-related human rights violations. This has been a factor in increasing legislative initiatives around the world, with the aim of establishing clear and binding rules to ensure responsible and sustainable business conduct. The purpose of the study is to examine the EU's legislative initiative on mandatory human rights due diligence through an ideational analysis. The further purpose is to investigate how and what the introduction of a new legislation can imply for the prevention of human rights violations in the value chain and how the accountability can be expressed. The thesis finds that the legislative initiative can be considered to have an overall positive impact to prevent and demand accountability for human rights violations in global value chains.

Business and human rights is a recurrent discussion and the literature shows that it is a common research topic. However, when it comes to Banking and human rights the academic works drop considerably. The purpose of this paper is first, measure the degree of detail and depth of the analyzed annual reports regarding the information relevant to human rights and second, check if the non-financial information or sustainability reporting of the selected banks have changed overtime. To try to answer those questions the paper makes use of a qualitative and quantitative content analysis that are based on a relevant theoretical framework for each of the questions. An extensive background on sustainability reporting is provided in order to have a linear narrative.

Although Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technology toolsets present enterprises with a significant amount of business benefits, such as improved enterprise communication, collaboration, creativity and innovation; nevertheless, enterprises are still facing tremendous challenges in promoting and sustaining end-user adoption. The challenges associated with the adoption and promotion of Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technologies can often be linked to a resistance to change, a closed culture environment, and concerns pertaining to information security, technology complexity, as well as an unclear enterprise collaboration technology strategic roadmap. The primary objective of this study was to determine how generic guiding principles could facilitate the adoption and promotion of Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technologies within an enterprise environment. In support of the primary objective, our sub-objectives were to identify the challenges that enterprises, as well as enterprise end-users experience when adopting and promoting Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technologies, as well as to explore and describe the critical success factors for adopting and promoting Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technologies. A case study technique was used to gather the data from a large South African information and communications technology (ICT) enterprise operating within the retail sector based in Johannesburg. Enterprise end-users that formed part of the case study were selected by using purposive sampling. The end-users were selected, based on their experience, project sponsorship, as well as the project-participation roles performed in the adoption of their Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technology toolset. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on three (3) end-users, comprising a business analyst, a technology specialists and a senior executive. Furthermore, administered questionnaires were completed by five (5) end-users, who actively use their Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technology toolset on a daily basis, performing operational, as well as business administrative tasks. This study used a qualitative research approach. Since validity forms a vital role in any qualitative study, this research study incorporated three validity approaches, including: the theoretical, internal and external approaches. The theoretical and external validity approaches were used to validate the identified guiding principles through a systematic review of the existing literature, as well as reviews and comments obtained from two subject-matter experts representing independent enterprises. Furthermore, internal validity was employed to complement and substantiate the research findings, consisting of project documents and reports made available by the enterprise. The main contribution in this research study is a set of ten (10) guiding principles that could be applied by enterprises either planning to, or in the process of adopting an Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technology toolset. Furthermore, the guiding principles could assist enterprises in formulating a Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technology adoption strategy, incorporating key adoption elements, including commitment, promotion and sustainability. / Computing

Diversity practitioners in the United States have taken steps to implement programs for integration of people in organizations from across the socioeconomic and demographic spectrum. Despite changes in U.S. discrimination laws and work by diversity practitioners, maintaining equitable workplace diversity continues to be a problem in U.S. corporations. This correlational study was conducted to examine differences in life-guiding principles, urban identification, and person-organization fit between urban and suburban residents. A purposive sample of 180 adults was drawn in a voluntary online survey from industries in two U.S. representative counties with a mix of urban and suburban sprawl. This study was also conducted to further examine planned behavior, expectancy, normative social influence, and social impact theories by comparing how the independent variable of participant residence location affected the dependent variables of life-guiding principles, urban identification, and person-organization fit. T-test statistics were used to test mean differences in normally distributed data sets, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for testing differences in non-normally distributed data sets. Test results revealed that there were differences in the dependent variables with a significant difference in urban identification for urban and suburban residents, confirming the hypothesis. Findings from this study may help diversity practitioners and organizational leaders understand the differences among urban and suburban residents. Study findings may also support organizations' social agenda toward addressing diversity issues and for narrowing career achievement gaps between urban and suburban residents through a better understanding of variations in culture.

Although Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technology toolsets present enterprises with a significant amount of business benefits, such as improved enterprise communication, collaboration, creativity and innovation; nevertheless, enterprises are still facing tremendous challenges in promoting and sustaining end-user adoption. The challenges associated with the adoption and promotion of Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technologies can often be linked to a resistance to change, a closed culture environment, and concerns pertaining to information security, technology complexity, as well as an unclear enterprise collaboration technology strategic roadmap. The primary objective of this study was to determine how generic guiding principles could facilitate the adoption and promotion of Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technologies within an enterprise environment. In support of the primary objective, our sub-objectives were to identify the challenges that enterprises, as well as enterprise end-users experience when adopting and promoting Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technologies, as well as to explore and describe the critical success factors for adopting and promoting Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technologies. A case study technique was used to gather the data from a large South African information and communications technology (ICT) enterprise operating within the retail sector based in Johannesburg. Enterprise end-users that formed part of the case study were selected by using purposive sampling. The end-users were selected, based on their experience, project sponsorship, as well as the project-participation roles performed in the adoption of their Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technology toolset. Semi-structured interviews were conducted on three (3) end-users, comprising a business analyst, a technology specialists and a senior executive. Furthermore, administered questionnaires were completed by five (5) end-users, who actively use their Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technology toolset on a daily basis, performing operational, as well as business administrative tasks. This study used a qualitative research approach. Since validity forms a vital role in any qualitative study, this research study incorporated three validity approaches, including: the theoretical, internal and external approaches. The theoretical and external validity approaches were used to validate the identified guiding principles through a systematic review of the existing literature, as well as reviews and comments obtained from two subject-matter experts representing independent enterprises. Furthermore, internal validity was employed to complement and substantiate the research findings, consisting of project documents and reports made available by the enterprise. The main contribution in this research study is a set of ten (10) guiding principles that could be applied by enterprises either planning to, or in the process of adopting an Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technology toolset. Furthermore, the guiding principles could assist enterprises in formulating a Enterprise 2.0 collaboration technology adoption strategy, incorporating key adoption elements, including commitment, promotion and sustainability. / Computing

In 1998 the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement were developed following years of crises faced by the millions of people experiencing forced displacement, especially those internally displaced. These Principles were widely considered to be precedent setting, both historically and normatively. However, the examination of the construction of the international norms that underpin the Principles indicates that there are important epistemological weaknesses in widely used constructivist frameworks that understand normative shifts in international relations. They are critiqued as being impedingly linear, temporally compressed and analytically obstructive in its agent-centric view of norm cascading. This research aims to address some of these gaps with an enhanced life-cycle model using cluster genealogies and the processes of replication and particularization. The reformulated framework is tested for robustness and feasibility using two preliminary cases – UNSC Resolution 1325 and the Chemical Weapons Convention. It is then used to conduct an in-depth original analysis of the development of the 1998 UN Guiding Principles. The findings in the case of the Guiding Principles show, for example, that though the acceptance of the IDP definition was a big leap, the replication and particularization of human rights limits the humanitarian scope of the Guiding Principles, and also brings into question existing humanitarian protection of IDPs under the Geneva Conventions. Meanwhile, rooting them in ‘sovereignty as responsibility’ has not shifted the community of states’ intersubjective take on sovereignty, but it has added to the existing normative tension – individual vs. state – that underpins the very understanding of sovereignty.

The management of South Africa's heritage resources is still lacking a great deal and many resources are being destroyed by ignorance, development and plain greed. Although South African legislation is adequate in theory, commitment on the side of the government in terms of staff, skills and resources to implement it, is not forthcoming. On the global platform however, we have much to learn as heritage management is regarded as a priority in most of the first world countries. Four steps to reach this goal, is summarizing it effectively: the identification, understanding how it was created and used, selecting the appropriate conservation techniques, and stakeholder involvement. The focus of this study is on the diverse heritage resources of the Blyde Canyon Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga, the largest green canyon in the world. This area has a rich, irreplaceable and unexplored cultural heritage. The tangible and intangible values were classified in a typological framework, including archaeology (stone age and iron age), rock art, historical industrial features, sacred sites, monuments, burial sites, graves and historic tourist features. Authorities are in the process of changing the status of the Nature Reserve to that of a National Park and it is also envisioned to nominate this unique natural and cultural landscape for World Heritage status. The database and overall objectives of this study has been identified to highlight the relevance and importance of the cultural heritage resources and to ensure its future protection and management. This area is already a popular tourist destination which is currently under-utilised, and by contributing to the protection and responsible development of the heritage resources, and by having the correct management principles set in place, the visitor experience will not only be enhanced but the surrounding towns and communities will benefit extensively. Copyright / Dissertation (MHCS)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Historical and Heritage Studies / unrestricted

Le droit de l’arbitrage conventionnel au Québec a été rythmé par différentes réformes de 1965 à nos jours. L’intervention législative la plus marquante est celle de la Loi de 1986 sur l’arbitrage, fortement inspirée de la Loi type de la CNUDCI de 1985. Avant cette réforme, la procédure d'arbitrage du Code de procédure civile n'était pas très étayée. À l’époque, ce manque de précision s’est traduit par une pratique réticente. Ensuite, le législateur et les juges n’ont cessé de manifester une position favorable à l’arbitrage. Les principales évolutions de l’arbitrage ont permis de mettre en lumière les raisons pour lesquelles ce mode de règlement des différends a perduré au fil des années au sein du Code de procédure civile. L’arbitrage a même été consacré par la dernière réforme du Code de procédure civile de 2016 comme étant une justice privée, érigée au même rang que la justice étatique. Les acquis de la Loi de 1986 ont été maintenus et complétés. La codification des objectifs de la procédure civile, des principes directeurs et l’insertion de nouvelles dispositions procédurales applicables en matière arbitrale et judiciaire, offrent des apports et des perspectives à exploiter, tant pour le processus arbitral que pour l’après-sentence. Les principes directeurs contribuent à renforcer le caractère adéquat de la procédure arbitrale. Quant à l’après-sentence, il s’agit de dissuader les demandes d’annulation des décisions arbitrales qui sont dilatoires ou abusives et de limiter les manquements dits importants à la procédure, afin de réduire les délais d’attente d’exécution des sentences arbitrales. / The Quebec Consensual Arbitration Law has been punctuated by various reforms from 1965 until now. The most significant legislative intervention was the Arbitration Act of 1986, which was strongly inspired from the UNCITRAL Model Law of 1985. Before this reform, the arbitration procedure of the Code of Civil Procedure was not very substantiated. At the time, this lack of accuracy resulted in a reluctant practice. Then, judges and legislators have consistently shown a favourable position to arbitration. The main developments in arbitration have highlighted the reasons why this mode for resolving disputes has been maintained over the years in the Code of Civil Procedure. Arbitration was even enshrined as part of the last reform the Code of Civil Procedure of 2016 as being a private justice, set up at the same level as the state justice. The achievements of the 1986 Act have been kept and supplemented. The codification of the objectives of civil procedure, of the guiding principles and the insertion of new procedural provisions applicable in arbitral and judicial matters, offers contributions and perspectives to be exploited, both for the arbitration process and for the after-award. The guidelines contribute to reinforce the adequacy of the arbitration procedure. As for the post-award, it is a question of dissuading the requests for annulment of the arbitral decisions that are dilatory or abusive, and of limiting substantial breaches of the procedure, in order to reduce the waiting times for execution of the arbitral awards.

The amount of data accumulated by organizations have grown significantly during the last couple of years, increasing the importance of data quality. Ensuring data quality for large amounts of data is a complicated task, but crucial to subsequent analysis. This study investigates how to maintain and improve data quality in a data warehouse. A case study of the errors in a data warehouse was conducted at the Swedish company Kaplan, and resulted in guiding principles on how to improve the data quality. The investigation was done by manually comparing data from the source systems to the data integrated in the data warehouse and applying a quality framework based on semiotic theory to identify errors. The three main guiding principles given are (1) to implement a standardized format for the source data, (2) to implement a check prior to integration where the source data are reviewed and corrected if necessary, and (3) to create and implement specific database integrity rules. Further work is encouraged on establishing a guide for the framework on how to best perform a manual approach for comparing data, and quality assurance of source data. / Mängden data som ackumulerats av organisationer har ökat betydligt under de senaste åren, vilket har ökat betydelsen för datakvalitet. Att säkerställa datakvalitet för stora mängder data är en komplicerad uppgift, men avgörande för efterföljande analys. Denna studie undersöker hur man underhåller och förbättrar datakvaliteten i ett datalager. En fallstudie av fel i ett datalager på det svenska företaget Kaplan genomfördes och resulterade i riktlinjer för hur datakvaliteten kan förbättras. Undersökningen gjordes genom att manuellt jämföra data från källsystemen med datat integrerat i datalagret och genom att tillämpa ett kvalitetsramverk grundat på semiotisk teori för att kunna identifiera fel. De tre huvudsakliga riktlinjerna som gavs är att (1) implementera ett standardiserat format för källdatat, (2) genomföra en kontroll före integration där källdatat granskas och korrigeras vid behov, och (3) att skapa och implementera specifika databasintegritetsregler. Vidare forskning uppmuntras för att skapa en guide till ramverket om hur man bäst jämför data genom en manuell undersökning, och kvalitetssäkring av källdata.

In 1998 the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement were developed following years of crises faced by the millions of people experiencing forced displacement, especially those internally displaced. These Principles were widely considered to be precedent setting, both historically and normatively. However, the examination of the construction of the international norms that underpin the Principles indicates that there are important epistemological weaknesses in widely used constructivist frameworks that understand normative shifts in international relations. They are critiqued as being impedingly linear, temporally compressed and analytically obstructive in its agent-centric view of norm cascading. This research aims to address some of these gaps with an enhanced life-cycle model using cluster genealogies and the processes of replication and particularization. The reformulated framework is tested for robustness and feasibility using two preliminary cases – UNSC Resolution 1325 and the Chemical Weapons Convention. It is then used to conduct an in-depth original analysis of the development of the 1998 UN Guiding Principles. The findings in the case of the Guiding Principles show, for example, that though the acceptance of the IDP definition was a big leap, the replication and particularization of human rights limits the humanitarian scope of the Guiding Principles, and also brings into question existing humanitarian protection of IDPs under the Geneva Conventions. Meanwhile, rooting them in ‘sovereignty as responsibility’ has not shifted the community of states’ intersubjective take on sovereignty, but it has added to the existing normative tension – individual vs. state – that underpins the very understanding of sovereignty.