Τη σημερινή εποχή γινόμαστε καθημερινά μάρτυρες μίας ταχέως αναπτυσσόμενης αγοράς, που δεν είναι άλλη από αυτή των κινητών πολυμεσικών εφαρμογών, όπως του Mobile TV και του Mobile Streaming. Υπηρεσίες όπως αυτές έχουν ή αναμένεται να έχουν υψηλή διείσδυση στη βιομηχανία της κινητής πολυμεσικής επικοινωνίας. Για να ικανοποιηθούν οι απαιτήσεις αυτών των υπηρεσιών για υψηλές ταχύτητες μετάδοσης, ο οργανισμός 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) ανέπτυξε το Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A), μία τεχνολογία η οποία αποτελεί την εξέλιξη των κινητών τηλεπικοινωνιακών τεχνολογιών 3ης γενιάς. Το LTE-A χρησιμοποιεί την τεχνολογία Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). Η συγκεκριμένη τεχνολογία μπορεί να προσφέρει νέες υψηλής χωρητικότητας ευρυζωνικές εφαρμογές και υπηρεσίες, ενώ παρέχει αποτελεσματική, από πλευράς κόστους, καθολική κάλυψη. Επιπλέον, ο οργανισμός 3GPP εισήγαγε την τεχνολογία Multimedia Broadcast / Multicast Service (MBMS), ως μέσο πανεκπομπής και πολυεκπομπής πληροφοριών στους χρήστες κινητών, με το Mobile TV να είναι η κύρια υπηρεσία που παρέχεται. Η υποδομή του LTE-A προσφέρει στο MBMS την επιλογή να χρησιμοποιήσει ένα uplink κανάλι για την αλληλεπίδραση μεταξύ της υπηρεσίας και του χρήστη, η οποία στα συνήθη δίκτυα πανεκπομπής δεν είναι απλό θέμα. Στο πλαίσιο των LTE-A συστημάτων, το MBMS έχει εξελιχθεί σε e-MBMS (το "e-" αντιστοιχεί στη λέξη evolved, δηλαδή εξελιγμένο). Αυτό θα επιτευχθεί μέσα από την αυξημένη απόδοση της ασύρματης διεπαφής που περιλαμβάνει μία νέα τεχνολογία μετάδοσης που ονομάζεται MBMS over Single Frequency Network (MBSFN). Κατά τη λειτουργία του MBSFN, τα MBMS δεδομένα μεταδίδονται ταυτόχρονα μέσω του αέρα από πολλαπλά κελιά τα οποία είναι αυστηρά χρονο-συγχρονισμένα. Το σύνολο των κελιών που λαμβάνουν αυτά τα δεδομένα, καλείται MBSFN περιοχή. Δεδομένου ότι οι MBSFN μεταδόσεις ενισχύουν σημαντικά το λόγο σήματος προς παρεμβολή και θόρυβο, μπορούν να οδηγήσουν σε σημαντικές βελτιώσεις στη φασματική απόδοση σε σύγκριση με την πολυεκπομπή μέσω των συστημάτων 3ης γενιάς. Αυτό είναι εξαιρετικά επωφελές στα όρια των κελιών, όπου οι μεταδόσεις (που στα συστήματα 3ης γενιάς, όπως το Universal Mobile Telecommunications System - UMTS, θεωρούνται ως παρεμβολή) μεταφράζονται σε χρήσιμη ενέργεια σήματος και ως εκ τούτου η ισχύς του λαμβανόμενου σήματος είναι αυξημένη, ενώ την ίδια στιγμή η ισχύς παρεμβολής μειώνεται σε μεγάλο βαθμό. Για να αξιοποιηθούν πλήρως τα πλεονεκτήματα της τεχνολογίας MBSFN και να βελτιωθεί η φασματική απόδοση, θα πρέπει να επιλεχθεί με προσοχή το σχήμα διαμόρφωσης και κωδικοποίησης για τη μετάδοση των δεδομένων. Η σχέση μεταξύ της απόδοσης του MBSFN και της επιλογής του σχήματος διαμόρφωσης και κωδικοποίησης έχει μελετηθεί διεξοδικά σε προηγούμενες ερευνητικές εργασίες. Ωστόσο οι περισσότερες (αν όχι όλες) από τις εργασίες αυτές επικεντρώνονται μόνο στην πλευρά των χρηστών και ως εκ τούτου δεν μπορούν να θεωρηθούν πλήρεις. Μερικές φορές ο στόχος του παρόχου μπορεί να είναι η μεγιστοποίηση της φασματικής απόδοσης σε όλους τους χρήστες της τοπολογίας ή η παροχή της υπηρεσίας σε όλους τους χρήστες ανεξάρτητα από τις συνθήκες που βιώνουν. Επίσης, οι περισσότερες από αυτές τις εργασίες καθορίζουν το σχήμα διαμόρφωσης και κωδικοποίησης κατά τις MBSFN μεταδόσεις εξετάζοντας μόνο την περίπτωση της μετάδοσης από ένα πομπό σε ένα δέκτη και δεν εξετάζουν τα οφέλη που μπορούν να προσφέρουν οι τεχνικές Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) στη συνολική απόδοση του συστήματος. Ο στόχος της παρούσας εργασίας είναι να επεκτείνει τις προηγούμενες ερευνητικές εργασίες και, επιπλέον, να προτείνει μια λύση στο πρόβλημα της επιλογής του σχήματος διαμόρφωσης και κωδικοποίησης. Προς την κατεύθυνση αυτή, αναλύουμε πρώτα μία διαδικασία τριών βημάτων η οποία επιλέγει το σχήμα διαμόρφωσης και κωδικοποίησης και υπολογίζει τη φασματική απόδοση στην περίπτωση ενός μόνο χρήστη. Στη συνέχεια, ακολουθεί η γενίκευση της υπόθεσης ενός χρήστη και προτείνονται τρεις προσεγγίσεις που επιλέγουν το σχήμα κωδικοποίησης για την μετάδοση των MBSFN δεδομένων σε σενάρια πολλαπλών χρηστών. Οι προσεγγίσεις αξιολογούνται για τρεις διαφορετικούς τρόπους μετάδοσης, έτσι ώστε να εξεταστεί η επίδραση των τεχνικών MIMO στην επιλογή σχήματος διαμόρφωσης για διαφορετικές κατανομές χρηστών. Τα αποτελέσματα της αξιολόγησης δείχνουν ότι, ανάλογα με το στόχο που έχει θέσει ο πάροχος (π.χ. μεγιστοποίηση της φασματικής απόδοσης ή επίτευξη μίας συγκεκριμένης τιμής φασματικής απόδοσης) κάθε προσέγγιση θα μπορούσε να οδηγήσει σε βελτιωμένη απόδοση. / Today we are witnesses of a rapidly increasing market for mobile multimedia applications, such as Mobile TV and Mobile Streaming. Services like these have or are expected to have high penetration in the mobile multimedia communications industry. In order to confront such high requirements for services that demand higher data rates, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) developed the Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) technology which constitutes the evolution of the 3rd Generation (3G) mobile telecommunications technologies. LTE-A utilizes Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). This radio technology is optimized to enhance networks by enabling new high capacity mobile broadband applications and services, while providing cost efficient ubiquitous mobile coverage. In addition, 3GPP has introduced the Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) as a means to broadcast and multicast information to mobile users, with Mobile TV being the main service offered. LTE-A infrastructure offers to MBMS an option to use an uplink channel for interaction between the service and the user, which is not a straightforward issue in usual broadcast networks. In the context of LTE-A systems, the MBMS will evolve into e-MBMS (“e-” stands for evolved). This will be achieved through the increased performance of the air interface that will include a new transmission scheme called MBMS over Single Frequency Network (MBSFN). In MBSFN operation, MBMS data are transmitted simultaneously over the air from multiple tightly time-synchronized cells. A group of those cells, which are targeted to receive these data, is called MBSFN area. Since the MBSFN transmission greatly enhances the Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR), the MBSFN transmission mode leads to significant improvements in Spectral Efficiency (SE) in comparison to multicasting over 3G systems. This is extremely beneficial at the cell edge, where transmissions (which in 3G systems, like Universal Mobile Telecommunications System - UMTS, are considered as inter-cell interference) are translated into useful signal energy and hence the received signal strength is increased, while at the same time the interference power is largely reduced. In order to fully exploit the benefits of MBSFN and to improve its performance in terms of SE, the Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) for the transmission of the data should be carefully selected. The relationship between MBSFN performance and MCS selection has been thoroughly studied in previous research works; however most (if not all) of these works focus only on the users’ side and therefore may not be sufficient. Sometimes the operator’s goal may be the maximization of the SE over all users of the topology or the provision of the service to all the users irrespectively of the conditions that they experience. In addition, most of these works determine the MCS scheme for MBSFN considering only the case of single antenna transmissions and they do not examine the benefits that Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transmissions may offer on the overall performance. The goal of this thesis is to extend the previous research works and, furthermore, to tackle the problems addressed. To this direction, we first analyze a 3-step procedure that selects the MCS and calculates the SE in the case of a single user. Then, we generalize the single-user case and we propose three approaches that select the MCS for the delivery of the MBSFN data in multiple-users scenarios. The approaches are evaluated for three different transmission modes, so as to examine the impact of multiple antennas techniques on the MCS selection, and for different users’ distributions. The evaluation results indicate that depending on the target that the operator may set (i.e. SE maximization or achievement of a specific SE) each approach could lead to improved performance.

Background: RTW after work-related injuries is a multifactorial process. Factors affecting clinicians to make RTW-recommendations for patients with WRSEI have not been studied in the literature. Purpose: We investigated the associations between group of factors chosen from different domains (Personal/Environmental) and clinicians’ RTW-recommendations for patients with WRSEI. Methods: Study design was cross-sectional. Data were collected from self-reported surveys and clinical charts of 130 adult workers (not working at the time of visit and referred to WSIB-Shoulder & Elbow Specialty Clinic-Toronto) with chronic (≥6-months) injuries. Results: Population mean age was 43.5-years. 52% were female. The average time-since-injury was 20.4-months (45%>12-months). 70% received RTW-recommendations (regular/modified-job). 30% received a No-RTW-recommendation. 42% had education≥college-level. 18% had heavy (>20kg) job-demands. Higher MCS-scores had a significant association (p=0.0003) with clinicians’ RTW-recommendations. Conclusion: In patients with chronic WRSEI(s), poor general health-status and high disability, workers with better mental-health were more likely to receive a RTW-recommendation by clinicians.

Background: RTW after work-related injuries is a multifactorial process. Factors affecting clinicians to make RTW-recommendations for patients with WRSEI have not been studied in the literature. Purpose: We investigated the associations between group of factors chosen from different domains (Personal/Environmental) and clinicians’ RTW-recommendations for patients with WRSEI. Methods: Study design was cross-sectional. Data were collected from self-reported surveys and clinical charts of 130 adult workers (not working at the time of visit and referred to WSIB-Shoulder & Elbow Specialty Clinic-Toronto) with chronic (≥6-months) injuries. Results: Population mean age was 43.5-years. 52% were female. The average time-since-injury was 20.4-months (45%>12-months). 70% received RTW-recommendations (regular/modified-job). 30% received a No-RTW-recommendation. 42% had education≥college-level. 18% had heavy (>20kg) job-demands. Higher MCS-scores had a significant association (p=0.0003) with clinicians’ RTW-recommendations. Conclusion: In patients with chronic WRSEI(s), poor general health-status and high disability, workers with better mental-health were more likely to receive a RTW-recommendation by clinicians.

The Magellanic Clouds (MCs) consist of a pair of galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), which are located at a distance of 50 kpc and 60 kpc, with stellar masses of 1010 M and 109 M , respectively. Morphologically they are categorized as irregular type galaxies. The MCs are gas rich and metal poor (Z=0.008 for LMC, and 0.004 for SMC) as compared to the Milky Way (MW), and have active star-forming regions. Their proximity and location at high galactic latitude enable us to resolve their individual populations as well as detect faint stellar populations. It is well known that the MCs are interacting with each other, as well as with the MW. The interaction is supported by the presence of the Magellanic Bridge and the Magellanic Stream. The evolved stellar populations in the MCs help us to understand their evolution and interaction process. The MCs host both Population I as well as Population II stars. This extended range of star formation is a valuable source of information to understand the formation and evolution of galaxies in general, and the MCs in particular. Evolved stellar popu-lation means the stars that have evolved o the main sequence and the giants, such as red giants (RGs), red clump stars, and asymptotic giant branch stars. There is a dominant population of evolved stars present in the MCs, in star clusters as well as in the eld. The aim of the thesis is to study the evolved stellar populations for one of the component of the MCs, the LMC. The study is primarily divided into two parts. (1) Study of sparse star clusters in the LMC: To increase our understanding of sparse star clusters in the LMC, with well estimated parameters, using deep Washington photometric data for 45 LMC clusters. (2) To estimate a metallicity map of LMC: In order to understand the metallicity variation across the galaxy. This is done by creating a high spatial resolution metallicity map of the LMC, using red giant branch (RGB) stars, with the help of photometric data and calibrated using spectroscopic studies of RGs in eld and star clusters. The introduction to the thesis study along with the aim are described in Chapter 1 of the thesis. The three sets of photometric data used for this study are described in Chapter 2. The data sets are: CT1 Washington photometric data for 45 star clusters within the LMC, the VI photometric data from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment Phase-III survey (OGLE III), and the Magellanic Cloud Photometric Survey (MCPS). Study of sparse star clusters in the LMC: A systematic study is per-formed to analyse the 45 cluster candidates, to estimate their parameters (radius, reddening, and age) using the main-sequence turn-o (MSTO), as well as the evolved portion of the colour{magnitude diagram (CMD). The basic parameters were estimated for 33 genuine clusters, whereas the other 12 cluster candidates have been classi ed as possible clusters/asterisms. The study of 33 star clusters are presented in Chapter 3. These clus-ters are categorized as genuine star clusters based on their strong density enhancement and cluster features with respect to their surrounding eld regions. Out of the 33 clusters, 23 are identi ed as single clusters and 10 are found to be members of double clusters. Detailed discussions of all the individual clusters are presented. The estimated parameters for the single and double clusters are listed in two di erent tables. About 50% of the clusters are in the age range 100{300 Myr, the rest of them being older or younger. Comparison with previous age estimates shows some agreement as well as some deviation. The remaining 12 clusters which could not be categorized as genuine star clusters are studied in Chapter 4. These clusters have poor (/suspi-cious) density enhancement and cluster features when compared to their surrounding elds. It is important to study such cluster candidates, as these objects probe the lower limit of the cluster mass function. Detailed discussion on these individual objects are presented and their estimated parameters are tabulated in this chapter. A detailed discussion based on the study of all the 45 inconspicuous clusters is presented in this chapter, including the estimated sizes (radii 2{10 pc), reddening with respect to eld, and location in the LMC. The mass limit estimated for genuine clusters is found to be 1000 M , whereas for possible clusters/asterisms it is few 100 M , using synthetic CMDs. The study of sparse clusters enlarged the number of objects con rmed as genuine star clusters (33) and estimated their fundamental parameters. The study emphasizes that the sizes and masses of the studied sample are found to be similar to that of open clusters in the MW. Thus, this study adds to the lower end of cluster mass distribution in the LMC, suggesting that the LMC, apart from hosting rich clusters, also has formed small, less massive open clusters in the 100{300 Myr age range. The 12 cases of possible clusters/asterisms are worthy of attention, in the sense that they can throw light on the survival time of such objects in the LMC. Photometric metallicity map of the LMC using RGB stars: A metallic-ity map of the LMC is estimated using OGLE III and MCPS photometric data. This is a rst of its kind map of metallicity up to a radius of 4{5 de-grees, derived using photometric data and calibrated using spectroscopic data of RGB stars. The RGB is identi ed in the V, (V I) CMDs of small areal subregions of varying sizes in both data sets. The slope of the RGB is used as an indicator of the average metallicity of a subregion, and this RGB slope is calibrated to metallicity using spectroscopic data for eld and cluster RGs in selected subregions. The metallicity map estimated using OGLE III photometric data is presented in Chapter 5. A method to identify the RGB of small subre-gions within the LMC and estimate its slope by using a consistent and automated method was developed. The technique is robust and indepen-dent of reddening and extinction. The details of calibrating the RGB slopes to metallicities, using previous spectroscopic results of RGs in eld and star clusters are presented. The OGLE III metallicity maps are pre sented, based on four cut-o criteria to separate regions with good ts. The OGLE III map has substantial coverage of the bar, the eastern and western LMC, but does not cover the northern and southern regions. The OGLE III metallicity map shows the bar region to be metal rich whereas the eastern and western regions to be relatively metal poor. The mean metallicity is estimated for three di erent regions within the LMC. For the complete LMC the mean [Fe/H] is = 0.39 dex ( [Fe/H] = 0.10); for the bar region it is = 0.35 dex ( [Fe/H] = 0.9); and for the outer LMC it is = 0.46 dex ( [Fe/H] = 0.11). The metallicity histogram for these di erent regions are also estimated. A radial metallicity gradient is estimated in the de-projected plane of the LMC. The metallicity gradient is seen to remain almost constant in the bar region (till a radius of 2.5 kpc) and has a shallow gradient of 0.066 0.006 dex kpc 1 beyond that till 4 kpc. In Chapter 6 the metallicity map based on MCPS photometric data is estimated. The MCPS data covers more of the northern and south-ern LMC (less of eastern and western regions) and is important to be analysed in order to reveal the metallicity trend of the overall disk. The systematic di erences between the lter systems of MCPS and OGLE III are corrected, and the MCPS slopes are then calibrated using the OGLE III slope{metallicity relation. The MCPS metallicity maps are presented, based on four cut-o criteria to separate regions with good ts. The bar region is found to be metal rich as was found using OGLE III data, whereas the northern and southern regions are marginally metal poor. The mean metallicity estimated for the complete LMC is = 0.37 dex ( [Fe/H] = 0.12); and for the outer LMC it is = 0.41 dex ( [Fe/H] = 0.11). The metallicity histogram for these di erent regions are estimated and compared with the OGLE III distribution. The metallicity range of the complete LMC is found to be almost similar for both data sets. The metallicity distribution within the bar has a narrow range as found using both data sets. The slight di erence between mean metallicity of outer LMC for the two data sets is attributed to their coverage. We suggest that the northern and southern regions of the LMC could be marginally more metal rich than the eastern and western regions. The metallicity gradient of the LMC disk, estimated from MCPS data is found to be shallow 0.049 0.002 dex kpc 1 till about 4 kpc. We also constructed a metallicity map of outliers using both OGLE III and MCPS data, and identi ed subregions where the mean metallic-ity di ers from the surrounding areas. We suggest further spectroscopic studies in order to assess their physical significance. The detailed conclusion of the thesis and future work are presented in Chapter 7. From the study of sparse star clusters in the LMC, it is concluded that LMC has open cluster like star cluster systems. It is important to include them to understand the cluster formation history (CFH) and their survival time scale. Presently, our understanding of the CFH is dominated by rich clusters. The bar of the LMC is found to be the most metal rich region, and the LMC metallicity gradient though shallow, resembles the gradient seen in spiral galaxies. The gradient is also similar to that found in our Galaxy. The higher metallicity in the bar region might indicate an active bar in the past.

Submitted by Aline Amarante (1146629@mackenzie.br) on 2017-07-24T21:10:19Z No. of bitstreams: 2 MAURÍCIO MESQUITA BORTOLUZZO.pdf: 2244426 bytes, checksum: 50c3ac77956611398f2f5b0e5e01416e (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Eliana Barboza (eliana.silva1@mackenzie.br) on 2017-08-07T13:25:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 MAURÍCIO MESQUITA BORTOLUZZO.pdf: 2244426 bytes, checksum: 50c3ac77956611398f2f5b0e5e01416e (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-07T13:25:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 MAURÍCIO MESQUITA BORTOLUZZO.pdf: 2244426 bytes, checksum: 50c3ac77956611398f2f5b0e5e01416e (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-11 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / The present thesis performs a pseudo real time study on the predictability of Brazilian inflation, measured by the IPCA, using data from January 1995 to December 2015. The main objective of the study is to compare the predictive accuracy of multivariate models, containing macroeconomic information, against Naive models and against disaggregated data models of inflation, which in the recent literature have been successful in overcoming benchmark models for Brazilian inflation. We found evidence that most models with macroeconomic variables have predictive accuracy higher than the traditional benchmark of the literature, the autoregressive model of order 1. There is also evidence regarding the superiority of forecasts generated by the model with greater data disaggregation. In addition, the ranking of model forecasts changes when we change: the loss function, the forecasts horizons, and the time windows used for evaluations. / A presente tese realiza um estudo pseudo tempo real sobre a previsibilidade da inflação brasileira, medida pelo IPCA, utilizando dados de janeiro de 1995 a dezembro de 2015. O principal objetivo do estudo é comparar a acurácia preditiva de modelos multivariados, contendo informações macroeconômicas, contra modelos ingênuos e contra modelos de dados desagregados da inflação, que na literatura recente apresentaram sucesso em superar os modelos benchmarks. Foram encontradas evidências que a maioria dos modelos com variáveis macroeconômicas possuem acurácia preditiva superior ao benchmark tradicional da literatura, o modelo Autorregressivo de ordem 1 (AR(1)). Também há evidências quanto à superioridade de previsões geradas pelo modelo com maior desagregação de dados. Além disso, verifica-se que o ranqueamento das previsões dos modelos se altera quando se alteram: a função de perda, os horizontes de previsão e as janelas de tempo utilizadas para as avaliações.

Prestationsmätning har länge utgjort en central del i organisationsledning. Användningen av mätetal för att följa hur organisationen presterar fyller många kritiska funktioner för företagsledningen, däribland att signalera om dagens position, bedöma måluppfyllnad och skapa motivation hos medarbetarna. Samtidigt utgör prestationsmätningen bara en liten delmängd av de olika typer av styrverktyg som företagsledningen har till sitt förfogande. Inom managementlitteraturen lyfts exempelvis planering, organisationskultur, organisationsstruktur och belöningar som andra viktiga styrverktyg, som alla bör arbeta gemensamt för att leda organisationen mot uppfyllandet av dess strategier. Verksamheter för forskning och utveckling, FoU, har i forskningen på prestationsmätning varit särskilt framträdande. De unika utmaningar som präglar branschen gör implementeringen av ett prestationsmätningssystem svårt, ett problem som också framgått på det fallföretag som denna studie utförts vid. Företaget är en framgångsrik tillverkare inom fordonsindustrin, men det finns på den studerade FoU-avdelningen en uppfattning om att de mätetal som används inte till tillräcklig grad bidrar till strategiuppfyllnaden. En fallstudie av kvalitativ karaktär har genomförts på avdelningen, där empiriskt material insamlats genom observationer, intervjuer och företagsdokument. Genom att betrakta anställda på olika nivåer i organisationen har en bild kunnat erhållas om hur de olika styrverktygen används i organisationen och den inverkan de har på de olika organisatoriska nivåerna. Genom studien avser författarna bidra till forskningen på prestationsmätning inom FoU med insikter från den aktuella branschen, och genom att styrningen betraktas i ett bredare perspektiv kan vidare en identifierad lucka i litteraturen gällande styrning i FoU-organisationer fyllas. Dessutom betraktas ämnet innovationsledning, för att bidra med insikter gällande styrningens inverkan på organisationens innovativa förmåga. Studien har visat att organisationskultur, aktivitetsplanering, icke-finansiella mätsystem och organisationsstruktur spelar en särskilt framträdande roll i fallföretagets styrning. Det finns också en tydlig användning av långsiktig planering och etablerade tillvägagångssätt för att bidra med riktning, men den svaga förankring som de långsiktiga strategierna uppvisar och de otydligheter som framträder gällande tillvägagångssätten gör de båda mindre effektiva som styrmedel. Vidare framkom budget och belöningar inte alls ha en styrande effekt. Prestationsmätningen visade sig ha ett starkt fokus mot leveranser och interna processer, där ett syfte om att använda dem för uppföljning dominerade starkt. Detta är en tydlig kontrast mot tidigare studier där mätningen i större utsträckning följt kundvärde och intern utveckling. En nedbrytning av organisationens strategier visade istället att andra styrmedel, så som kultur och struktur, spelade en särskilt viktig roll i att styra mot strategier som var av denna mer långsiktiga karaktär. Genom de svagheter som framkommit i organisationens styrning kan studien hjälpa fallföretaget med att identifiera potentiella områden för vidare förbättring. Studien utgör också en första applicering av att brett använt styrsystem inom FoU, vilket med hänsyn till fallföretagets framgång kan vara av intresse för företag med liknande verksamhet som är intresserade av att implementera ett styrsystem i sin egen organisation. / Performance Measurement has for a long time had a central position in the management of organizations. The use of measurements for tracking business performance fulfills several critical functions for the management, which includes signaling about the current position, judging performance, and creating motivation among the employees. However, performance measurement is only one of the several kinds of control systems that managers may use. In the management literature, types of control such as planning, cultural controls, organizational structure and rewards are mentioned, and they must all function together to guide the organization towards the fulfillment of its strategies. Research and Development (R&D) organizations have had a special prominence in the performance measurement literature. The unique challenges that distinguish the function make the implementation of a performance measurement system difficult, a problem that has been experienced at the case company where this study has been carried out. The company is a successful manufacturer in the automotive industry, but at the studied R&D-department there is a belief that the measurements in use does not contribute to the fulfillment of the strategies to a satisfactory degree. A case study of qualitative character has been carried out at the department, where empirics have been gathered through observations, interviews, and corporate documents. By considering employees on different levels in the organization, a picture has emerged regarding the various control systems in use in the organization and the impact they have on different organizational levels. Through this study, the authors contribute to the performance measurement literature in the field of R&D with insights from the industry in question, and by treating management control from a wider perspective a field previously untouched in the literature has been filled regarding management control in R&D- organizations. Furthermore, the concept of innovation management is touched upon, to contribute with valuable insights regarding the impact of the management control on the innovative capabilities of the company. This study has shown that the organisation structure, cultural controls, action planning and non- financial measurement systems are the most prominent types of control in the studied organisation. There are also long range planning and established procedures present to serve as guidance, but weak awareness of long-term strategies and uncertainties in standardised procedures make these types control less effective. Furthermore, budgets and monetary compensations seemed to have no controlling effects. The performance measurement system in place has a strong focus towards project deliveries and internal processes, and its purpose is mainly diagnostic. The result contrasts with previous studies, which have shown that the performance measurement systems more often monitor customer value and internal development. A decomposition of the strategies within the studied organisation and a matching with the identified control systems showed that other types of control, such as organisation structure and culture, served a more significant part in fulfilling the long-term strategies. By highlighting weaknesses regarding the control system within the studied organisation, this study could help the case company to identify potential areas for improvement. The study also presents a broader perspective of management control systems within R&D, and since the case company has been very successful throughout the years this could serve as inspiration for other companies looking to implement a control system.

Bakgrund: Något som blivit mycket aktuellt i och med Covid-19 är distansarbete. Distansarbetehar ökat under flera år, mycket tack vare teknologisk utveckling. Men när Folkhälsomyndighetensrekommendationer kom att man skulle begränsa sina sociala kontakter var det hela arbetsplatsersom ställde om till distansarbete. Styrning är en vital del av en organisation som kan främja bådemedgång och motgång. Styrningen måste dessutom anpassas till sin omvärld, vilket ändradesdrastiskt i och med det påtvingade distansarbetet. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att kartlägga hur styrningen av kunskapsintensiva organisationer harpåverkats av påtvingat distansarbete och skapa förståelse för hur chefer hanterar dennaomställning. Genomförande: Studien har genomförts med kvalitativ metod och en abduktiv ansats. Empiriskadata är insamlad genom 5 intervjuer över Teams och 4 mailkompletteringar med sammarespondenter. Respondenterna är chefer i kunskapsintensiva organisationer som vi i tidigareyrkesroller har haft kontakt med. Det har även tagits fram en teoretisk referensram som skall bistådet empiriska materialet att svara på forskningsfrågorna. Slutsats: Till att börja med har vi upplevt att samtliga respondenter haft ett väletableratkultursystem som har hjälpt dem genom distansarbetet. Ett väletablerat kultursystem innebär ävenatt organisationerna haft en hög tillit till sina medarbetare vilket enligt Baruch (2000) är enavgörande faktor för distansarbete. Detta då tillit är en nödvändig faktor för att respondenternaskall kunna låta medarbetarna styra sig själva i större utsträckning. Vi ser även att respondenternahar arbetat reaktivt med svårigheter som uppkommit i och med distansarbetet. Detta har de kunnatgöra på grund av organisationernas interaktiva arbetssätt. De små organisationerna har haft flermöten för att kompensera för bristande kommunikation vid distansarbete. Medan de störreorganisationerna fått göra större förändringar i sina organisationer. / Background: Remote work has been all but unnoticed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Remotework is a growing phenomenon, thanks to technological advancement during the last decade.When Sweden's public health authority recommended that people should limit their socialengagements, organisations were fast to get their worker’s home. Management Control inorganisations is a vital part for success. The management control systems also must fit into itssurroundings, which dramatically changed with the forced distance work. Purpose: To map how management control in knowledge intensive organisations have beenaffected by forced distance work and increase understanding for how leaders have managed thatconversion. Methodology: The study is qualitative, with an abductive approach. The empirical data wascollected through five semi-structured interviews and four e-mail conversations with the samerespondents. The respondents are five leaders from knowledge intensive organisations.Additionally, we have created a theoretical framework to support the empirical data in answeringthe research questions. Conclusion: The respondents has had strong cultural systems to help them through the remotework situation. A strong cultural system also means that the respondents trust for their employeeshas been high. Which in turn is a meaningful factor the respondents to be able to let their employeesbe able to self-govern themself during remote work. We have also seen the respondents workingreactively to solve problems that have occurred during remote work. They have been able toaccomplish this much thanks to their ability to work interactively with each other. The smallorganisations have had more meetings to compensate for flawed communications in the start ofremote working. Whereas the larger organisations have had to make bigger organisational changes.

This is a thesis about anti-paternalism – the liberal doctrine that we may not interfere with a person’s liberty for her own good. Empirical circumstances and moral values may certainly give us reason to avoid benevolent interference. Anti-paternalism as a normative doctrine should, however, be rejected. Essay I concerns the definitions of paternalism and anti-paternalism. It is argued that only a definition of paternalism in terms of compound reason-actions can accommodate its special moral properties. Definitions in terms of actions, common in the literature, cannot. It is argued, furthermore, that in specifying the reason-actions in further detail, the notion of what is self-regarding, as opposed to other-regarding, is irrelevant, contrary to received opinion. Essay II starts out with the definition of paternalism defended in essay I and claims that however this very general definition is specified, anti-paternalism is unreasonable and should be rejected. Anti-paternalism is the position that certain reasons – referring one way or the other to the good of a person, give no valid normative support to certain actions – some kind of interferences with the same person. Since the reasons in question are normally quite legitimate and important reasons for action, a convincing argument for anti-paternalism must explain why they are invalid in cases of interference. A closer look at the reasons and actions in question provides no basis for such an explanation. Essay III considers a concrete case of benevolent interference – the withholding of information concerning uncertain threats to public health in the public’s best interest. Such a policy has been suggested in relation to the European Commission’s proposed new system for the Registration, Evaluation, and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH). Information about uncertain threats to health from chemicals would allegedly spread anxiety and depression and thus do more harm than good. The avoidance of negative health effects is accepted as a legitimate and good reason for withholding of information, thus respecting the conclusion of essay II, that anti-paternalism should be rejected. Other reasons, however, tip the balance in favour of making the information available. These reasons include the net effects on knowledge, psychological effects, effects on private decisions and effects on political decisions. / QC 20101115

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to examine how Management Control Systems (MCS) impact Diversification Strategy Processes (DSP) in diversified firms. Method: A qualitative research method was used where five different profiled managers participated in the research. The interviews were semi-structured and secondary data were used together with the findings where secondary data was available. Thematic analysis was used throughout the data analysis. Conclusion: The results are inconclusive regarding the impact of the Belief, Interactive, and Diagnostic Controls on the Initiation, Searching, and Execution Stage of DSP. The findings are, however, consistent with the impact of Boundary Controls on the Initiation, Searching, and Execution Stage of DSP. Research Limitations: This research has not differentiated between different types of diversification strategies and their processes. Small, medium, and large firms have not been separated throughout the research. The sample size of the data collection was small, making the results not generalizable.

<p>This thesis presents the results of a study exploring the health status and health determinants in two farming groups in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada: Old Order Mennonites (OOMs) and non-OOM farmers. Physical health and mental health are examined, and Canada’s 12 health determinants (excluding genetics) are included in the analysis. A survey was distributed to both groups in 2010 to obtain information on health status and determinants. Comparing the two groups reduces the likely impact of contextual features impacting both, such as local economic conditions. The mental component summary (MCS) and physical component summary (PCS) of the SF-12 were used to measure mental and physical health. The study compares health in the two populations, and uses ordinary least squares (multiple) regression to determine the relative importance of the determinants in shaping health. The study found that mental health is better in OOMs, mainly due to OOM women’s strong mental health. Physical health was worse in OOMs, and while true for both genders, OOM women appear to be particularly disadvantaged. There is overlap between the groups in the determinants shaping physical and mental health. In both groups, mental health is shaped by social interaction, stress and coping; and physical health by age, childhood disease history, coping and body mass index. This suggests these factors may be important across many populations facing different life circumstances, thus representing priorities for policy action. Interestingly, the key determinants shaping physical health in both groups do not include social factors such as social capital, although social factors do shape mental health (especially in OOMs). This may be due to the rural or farming status of the two groups, or differences between physical and mental health. Determining which is more likely requires reconciling the results of this study with others, an effort hampered by differences in models, methods and health outcomes employed.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)