This study is about the investigation of the impact of organisational culture on employee commitment during an acquisition process in an insurance organisation. A sample of 318 employees was selected from a population of +/-600 in a South African insurance organisation. The sample was categorised between employees in non-management as well as those in management positions. Managers were further categorised as junior managers and middle managers. These participants were selected based on the fact that they were not involved in the strategic decision-making processes during the acquisition. Thus they had no input in the decision making regarding the acquisition process. Employees on senior management level and above did not form part of the study because they were involved in the acquisition process's strategic decision-making. The sample was also based on employees who were already employed by the organisation when the acquisition process was finalised. The acquisition process started in 2013 and was finalised in 2017. The descriptive correlation research method was used for the study. The methodological approach adopted was the quantitative approach analysed based on descriptive statistics followed by inferential statistics using the SPSS 2017 (version 25). Analysis of data was done using Pearson correlation coefficient, regression analysis, independent T-test and ANOVA. The internal consistency of the measuring instruments was determined using the Cronbach's alpha. Questionnaires, namely the Organisational Culture Questionnaire (OCQ) and Organisational Commitment Scale (OCS), were used to measure organisational culture and employee commitment, respectively. The results revealed a high level of internal consistency across the scale and the items of the OCQ (EC & PC) and OCS variables. The conclusions of the empirical study describe the impact of organisational culture on employee commitment during an acquisition process. The empirical study indicated that the impact of preferred organisational culture on employee commitment is insignificant. However, the impact of existing organisational culture on employee commitment is significant. The findings further indicated that the dominant existing culture is the role culture whilst the dominant preferred culture is the power culture. Affective commitment was found to be dominant in terms of employee commitment. The limitations of this study are presented together with recommendations for future research. The recommendations for the profession of industrial and organisational psychology highlight pertinent aspects for practicing psychologists and managers in this field. Based on the study's findings, organisations are advised to diagnose their cultures and determine how it affects their employees’ commitment in addition to other recommendations provided. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Text in English / The primary aim of this study is to determine the significance of the application of physical surveillance as a method in the investigation of insurance fraud conducted by the Surveillance Unit at the Forensic Department of Discovery Life. Various objectives were fulfilled in this study:  To explore, identify and describe the value of the application of physical surveillance, as a forensic investigation method, in order to determine the significance of this method in the investigation of insurance fraud at the Forensic Department of Discovery Life.  To determine whether the application of physical surveillance at the Forensic Department of Discovery Life is achieving its intended objective relating to the degree to which the beneficiary’s (Discovery Life) situation has changed as a result of this method.  To apply new information, acquired from the findings of this study, to further develop good practice and enhance performance in order to empower investigators at Discovery Life with new knowledge relating to the application of physical surveillance in the investigation of insurance fraud. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with forensic investigators employed at the Forensic Department at Discovery Life. The research has revealed that the majority of forensic investigators, other than the Surveillance Unit, at the Forensic Department of Discovery Life do not utilise physical surveillance during insurance fraud investigations to assist them in gathering evidence. These investigators also had a lack of knowledge and skills regarding the utilisation of physical surveillance during insurance fraud investigations and the advantages of this method during insurance fraud investigations. As a result of the non-utilisation of physical surveillance during insurance fraud investigations conducted at the Forensic Department of Discovery Life, important information and evidence with regard to the movement and actions of identified perpetrators who commit insurance fraud are lost to the investigators. However, the significance of the application of physical surveillance in the investigation of insurance fraud is emphasised by the forensic investigators attached to the Surveillance Unit of Discovery Life who utilise physical surveillance on a daily basis to investigate insurance fraud. The research has further revealed that insurance fraud is a major concern to the insurance industry, but can be mitigated through the implementation of unconventional investigative methods, such as physical surveillance, to enhance investigative capabilities. It was recommended that all forensic investigators at Discovery Life be trained in the techniques of physical surveillance to address shortcomings of general and out-dated investigation methods. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

Corporate governance practice differs regionally and nationally, depending on how each legal environment protects minority investors, capital markets and company ownership structure. Governance can also change spectacularly in regions or countries with comparatively high levels of institutional investment. The notion of institutional investors' activism is increasingly important in developed markets as the ideal corporate governance mechanism to monitor corporate managers and overcome agency problems arising from dispersed corporate ownership in modern companies. These institutions can work together on an improved corporate governance framework more effectively than individual investors, monitoring corporate controllers of listed companies in emerging and developing markets, using their influence more vigorously and in ways more fitting to a concentrated ownership environment such as that in Saudi Arabia. Consequently, the role of institutional investors in emerging and developing markets will depend strongly on institutional investors' activism and the arrangements determined and undertaken by the corporate governance regulatory framework in these markets. In considering the influential role of institutional investors to improve corporate governance practice, a high level of minority shareholder protection thus remains an indicator of good corporate governance and regulatory pressure of rights and incentives, which are necessary to empower non-controlling shareholders in these concentrated ownership markets to exert a strong activist influence in monitoring corporate activities, thus improving the corporate governance practices of investee companies. In this context, this thesis contends that in Saudi Arabia in particular, shareholder involvement in corporate governance is inadequate, as a result of a variety of economic and regulatory obstacles. It goes on to identify what improvements are necessary and where, to ensure a sound framework for effective institutional investor activism and to improve the level of minority shareholder protection. It also cautions Saudi legislators against erecting hurdles to the future engagement of Saudi and foreign institutional investors in monitoring corporate activities which may affect the conditions for access, allocation and monitoring of equity, which is so important for value creation and sustainable economic growth. The main benefit to be derived from this research is that it facilitates a fuller understanding of the Saudi approach to corporate governance, the corporate ownership environment and trends in the capital market. The analysis also deepens knowledge of corporate governance regimes, including the role of institutional investors, and of their characteristics and investment behaviours. In short, it considers whether institutional investors are willing or have been encouraged to use their power to engage in the companies in which they invest and whether they are qualified to solve the agency problem.

Climate change has become one of the most debated environmental risks. The world is faced with the threat of weather variability. There has been an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. There is rising concern that weather losses might affect the sustainability of insurance businesses. The primary obective of the study was to ascertain the significance of changes in temperature, precipitation and wind speeds in explaining changes in weather-related claims.Furthermore the reseach had three key secondary objectives, firstly to find if changes in annual average temperature levels lead to changes in weather-related claims. Secondly to determine if average annual wind speeds lead to changes in weather-related loss .Thirdly to establish if the average changes in annual rainfall or precipitation levels lead to changes in weather-related claims. Quantitatively this study explored the relationship between climate change and weather losses in South Africa. Temperature, rainfall, and wind speed were the main weather variables analysed. Lack of properly recorded insured weather losses was the major challenge. Nonetheless, total economic weather losses were used as a proxy for insured weather losses.The analysis employed regression, cointegration and vector error correction models. Study findings showed that climate change is influencing weather losses. The existence of correlation and causality between weather variables and losses was also affirmed. Thus the insurance industry should comprehensively incorporate climate change into its business strategy to minimise exposure. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

信用評等制度在美國已有百年以上歷史，而我國自民國80幾年開始發展評等制度，截至目前，僅有中華信用評等公司與台灣經濟新報社兩家公司提供評等服務，而台灣經濟新報社更將金融保險業排除於評等對象之外。站在穩定市場競爭、保障消費者權益、配合監理需求，以及輔助專案投標等方面來看，市場上的確需要一套能反映產險業行業特性之評等模式。 本文以美國接受A.M.Best評等之產險公司為研究對象，運用三種統計方法：多元區別分析(Multiple Discriminant Analysis，MDA)、羅吉斯迴歸(Unordered Logistic Regression，ULR)、順序性羅吉斯迴歸(Ordered Logistic Regression，OLR)，來建構產險公司之信用評等模式。樣本選擇方面：估計樣本，選取美國1993年到1996年接受A.M.Best評等之產險公司327家；保留樣本，為1997年78筆資料。 而本文預定達成目標如下： 一、建立等級預測模型：參考Ederington(1985)所作債券等級預測模型，以獲利能力、槓桿、流動性、投資風險、準備金適足性五類指標共38個財務比率，透過三種統計模型，建構等級預測模型。 二、藉由等級預測之建立，尋找能有效區別產險公司評等等級之財務指標，並分析其影響程度。 三、力求模型公信力：無論變數選擇或權數決定，皆由統計軟體按照樣本特性選取產生，減少人為主觀判斷。 在決定研究對象之初，因考慮到國內產險公司接受評等之家數不多，且年數又太短，資料數量無法據以建立評等模式，因而決定以美國的產險公司為對象，再以台灣樣本作為保留樣本，預測之等級結果僅供參考之用。 / Three possible models of the P-L Insurers rating process are estimated and compared：1. Muitiple Discriminant Model, 2. Unordered Logistic Model, 3. Ordered Logistic Model. Each model is estimated for a sample of 327 American P-L insurance companies using the same 38 independent variables. The three estimated models are then employed to predict ratings for a holdout sample of 78 companies. The study analyzes 1993 through 1997 data for a sample of P-L insurers that acquired A.M.Best Financial strength ratings between December 31,1993, and December 31, 1997. Empirical evidence suggests that even when models with the same basic structure were compared, differences in estimation procedures resulted in quite different coefficient estimates and classifications. The muitiple discriminant model clearly outperformed the regression model, while the unordered logistic model was clearly superior to the ordered logistic model.

The primary aim of this study is to determine the significance of the application of physical surveillance as a method in the investigation of insurance fraud conducted by the Surveillance Unit at the Forensic Department of Discovery Life. Various objectives were fulfilled in this study:  To explore, identify and describe the value of the application of physical surveillance, as a forensic investigation method, in order to determine the significance of this method in the investigation of insurance fraud at the Forensic Department of Discovery Life.  To determine whether the application of physical surveillance at the Forensic Department of Discovery Life is achieving its intended objective relating to the degree to which the beneficiary’s (Discovery Life) situation has changed as a result of this method.  To apply new information, acquired from the findings of this study, to further develop good practice and enhance performance in order to empower investigators at Discovery Life with new knowledge relating to the application of physical surveillance in the investigation of insurance fraud. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with forensic investigators employed at the Forensic Department at Discovery Life. The research has revealed that the majority of forensic investigators, other than the Surveillance Unit, at the Forensic Department of Discovery Life do not utilise physical surveillance during insurance fraud investigations to assist them in gathering evidence. These investigators also had a lack of knowledge and skills regarding the utilisation of physical surveillance during insurance fraud investigations and the advantages of this method during insurance fraud investigations. As a result of the non-utilisation of physical surveillance during insurance fraud investigations conducted at the Forensic Department of Discovery Life, important information and evidence with regard to the movement and actions of identified perpetrators who commit insurance fraud are lost to the investigators. However, the significance of the application of physical surveillance in the investigation of insurance fraud is emphasised by the forensic investigators attached to the Surveillance Unit of Discovery Life who utilise physical surveillance on a daily basis to investigate insurance fraud. The research has further revealed that insurance fraud is a major concern to the insurance industry, but can be mitigated through the implementation of unconventional investigative methods, such as physical surveillance, to enhance investigative capabilities. It was recommended that all forensic investigators at Discovery Life be trained in the techniques of physical surveillance to address shortcomings of general and out-dated investigation methods. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

The graduation thesis aims to specify and define, with respect to the Czech legislation, the profit and loss statement of the insurance companies and those items of revenues and expenses that are specific for the insurance companies. The thesis deals with the principal characteristics of the revenues and the expenses of the insurance companies as well as with the matter whether insurance companies can in any means influence their management result. It also focuses on the field of the insurance security -- what is the insurance security in the Czech Republic in relation to the European Union, and on the quantity limits of the profit and loss statement, in the Czech insurance sector. It also assesses the efficiency of the local insurance companies in relation to this, what is the share of the earned premium when taking in account the insurance claims, the operating costs and the management result. The graduation thesis came to the conclusion that an insurance company can quite easily influence its accounting management result and therefore it is necessary for the company to respect the relevant accounting measures. Furthermore, the Czech Republic in comparison to the other EU countries indicates relatively low level of insurance security. With respect to the efficiency it is possible to conclude (in relation to the year 2012 and the local insurance companies) that the earned premium comprises of more that 60% of the claimed damages, 30% of the operating costs and 10% of the earned premium represents the net profit.

This thesis is focused on the transformation of hospitals into joint stock companies from 2010 to the end of 2011. It is primarily aimed at actors, their actions, positions, attitudes and interests in this process. Furthermore, it is concerned with the question of the public vs. private interests in terms of health protection, ensuring the availability and quality of healthcare. The transformation process of hospitals and the position of actors is explained by the combination of economic and public policy theory - neoliberalism, economic globalization, New Public Management and Advocacy Coalition Framework. We explain actions, attitudes and interests of actors in the transformation process of hospitals by using research methods such as an analysis of selected events in health care and research of actors' actions. These research methods are based on different methods of data collecting such as semi-structured and informal interviews, a questionnaire survey and the study of secondary sources. The main aim of this thesis is an analysis of the transformation process of hospitals into joint stock companies in context of selected events in health policy, with a focus on research of actors' actions, attitudes and interests in this process. Keywords hospitals, transformation, actors, joint stock company,...

This cross-sectional qualitative study explored and described the role and contribution of operational level employees towards corporate entrepreneurship (CE) in the long-term insurance sector in Johannesburg, South Africa. Individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews took place with 13 operational level employees. Data analysis was done through thematic analysis where themes and sub-themes emerged. The findings indicate that operational level employees acknowledge that CE positively influences their entrepreneurial activity within the organisation. While operational level employees implement the CE strategy, they emphasise non-engagement in the CE initiatives as one of the main barriers to contributing to CE. This study concludes that management should focus on the antecedents of CE such as management rewards/reinforcement, work discretion, organisational boundaries, organisational structure and organisational culture. / Applied Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Le secteur des assurances est protéiforme : il comprend plusieurs opérateurs dont l’intégration dans le paysage économique et juridique s’est accentuée ces dernières années et ne cesse de s’imposer. Les compagnies d'assurance déploient elles-mêmes des activités d’assurance multiples. Depuis les années cinquante les différents régimes d’assurances maladie, vieillesse, chômage – obligatoires, complémentaires – sont exploités par certains organismes assureurs (mutuelles et institutions de prévoyance). Ces organismes développent leurs activités sur des marchés dont le caractère économique n’est pas toujours évident. Si les assurances vie par exemple, ne soulèvent guère de difficulté d’insertion sur un marché concurrentiel, peut-on en revanche considérer que les régimes complémentaires et légaux d’assurance maladie opèrent sur un marché économique ? Cette question conduit à s’interroger sur la soumission du secteur des assurances au droit de la concurrence et son éventuelle unicité de régime. Deux points sont étudiés, en premier lieu, il s’agit de confronter le secteur des assurances à la vision extensive des autorités européenne et nationale sur les critères d’applicabilité du droit de la concurrence. Cette approche est vérifiée auprès de tous les opérateurs proposant des produits et services qualifiés d'assurance. En second lieu, sont examinées l'application du droit de la concurrence au secteur des assurances et leurs exemptions spécifiques. Cette étude prend en compte l’ensemble du droit de la concurrence : pratiques anticoncurrentielles, droit des concentrations économiques et aides d’État. Elle s’appuie essentiellement sur le droit européen et français de la concurrence. / The insurance industry is protean : it includes several operators whose integration into the economic and legal landscape has intensified in recent years and continues to impose itself. Insurance companies themselves deploy multiple insurance activities. Since the 1950s, some insurers have exploited differents insurance schemes such as, health, old age, unemployment (whether compulsory or complementary). These organizations develop their activities in markets whose economic character is not always the most obvious. If life insurance, for example, does not present any difficulty in entering a competitive market, can we also consider that the supplementary and statutory health insurance schemes operate similarly in an economic market ? This question leads up to wonder about the submission of the insurance sector to competition law and its possible uniqueness of regime. Two points are studied, firstly, the question of confronting the insurance sector with the extensive vision of the European and national authorities. Secondly, an examination of the application of competition law to the insurance sector and the justification for different treatment. This study takes into account the whole of competition law : antitrust practices, economic concentrations and state aids. It is essentially based on European and French competition law.