abstract: In this study I investigate the organizational mechanisms (pathways) through which strategic investors can help a firm improve performance. Many commercial banks in China have recently invited foreign banks as strategic investors since China’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), hoping to gain managerial and technological knowhow from the foreign banks. Using Shanghai Pudong Development Bank as a representative example, I conduct an in-depth qualitative analysis about how the joining of Citi Bank as a strategic investor has helped the local Chinese bank improve its financial performance. On the basis of a comprehensive review of the relevant literature, I first develop a theoretical model that describes the organizational mechanisms (pathways) through which foreign strategic investors can influence the local bank’s performance. Specifically, by participation in corporate governance, the foreign strategic investor can have a positive influence over the local bank’s strategy development, operational targets, incentive systems, and organizational culture, which consequently lead to improvements in the local banks operations and financial performance. I then use a case study method to substantiate the logic and the pathways of the model with the detailed information collected from the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and Citi Bank strategic alliance. The results are consistent with the model’s descriptive validity. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Business Administration 2015

O objetivo desta tese é investigar a relação entre a remuneração dos executivos e o desempenho financeiro das empresas, no contexto do mercado brasileiro. A premissa é que o sistema de remuneração pode ajudar a direcionar os esforços dos executivos para os objetivos estratégicos do negócio, contribuindo para que a companhia alcance níveis superiores de desempenho financeiro. A amostra não-probabilística é formada por 44 empresas industriais. Elas foram selecionadas dentre as eleitas como As 150 Melhores Empresas para Você Trabalhar no Brasil, em 2007. Os dados da pesquisa são secundários e foram extraídos de dois bancos de dados: a) Programa de Estudos em Gestão de Pessoas (Progep), vinculado à Fundação Instituto de Administração (FIA); b) Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Contábeis, Atuariais e Financeiras (FIPECAFI). Para operacionalizar a variável independente remuneração, são utilizados, além do salário mensal e do salário variável, três índices criados especialmente para este trabalho: benefícios, carreira e desenvolvimento. Esses índices medem o acesso a benefícios; a mecanismos de estímulo e suporte à carreira; a mecanismos de estímulo à educação e ao desenvolvimento profissional. Trata-se de itens oferecidos pelas empresas a seus diretores, vice-presidentes e presidentes, os quais são denominados, neste trabalho, de executivos. Esses dados de remuneração referem-se ao exercício de 2006. Para operacionalizar a variável desempenho financeiro, são utilizados três indicadores contábeis crescimento das vendas, retorno sobre patrimônio líquido e margem líquida sobre as vendas dos exercícios sociais de 2006 e de 2007. O porte das companhias é utilizado como variável de controle e é medido pelo logaritmo natural do número de funcionários. A hipótese da pesquisa de que existe uma relação positiva e significante entre a remuneração dos executivos e o desempenho financeiro das empresas, no contexto do mercado brasileiro, é verificada por meio de um conjunto de testes estatísticos: de igualdade de médias, análise de correlação e análise de regressão. Os resultados do teste de Mann-Whitney não apresentam evidências de que existe relação entre as variáveis. A análise de correlação de Pearson mostra associações fracas e negativas entre as seguintes variáveis: a) índice de carreira e crescimento das vendas de 2006; b) índice de carreira e retorno sobre patrimônio líquido de 2006; c) índice de desenvolvimento e retorno sobre patrimônio líquido de 2006. Já a análise de correlação de Spearman aponta: a) associação fraca e positiva entre índice de benefícios e margem líquida sobre as vendas de 2006; b) associação fraca e negativa entre índice de desenvolvimento e retorno sobre patrimônio líquido de 2006. Os resultados da análise de regressão linear múltipla não permitem comprovar a existência de relação positiva e significante entre a remuneração dos executivos e o desempenho financeiro das empresas. As contribuições deste trabalho estão em produzir conceitos mais amplos para operacionalizar as variáveis, estudar a relação no contexto do mercado brasileiro e abrir perspectivas para a realização de novos trabalhos acadêmicos. / This thesis is intended to investigate the relation between remuneration of executives and the financial performance of the companies in the context of the Brazilian marketplace. The underlying assumption is that the remuneration system may help to direct the efforts of executives towards the business strategic purposes. Hence, it will contribute for the company to attain higher levels of financial performance. The non-probabilistic sample is comprised of 44 industrial organizations. They have been selected out from the 150 Best Companies to Work For in Brazil in 2007. The research data are secondary and have been taken from two databases: a) Programa de Estudos em Gestão de Pessoas (Progep) linked to Fundação Instituto de Administração (FIA); b) Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Contábeis, Atuariais e Financeiras (FIPECAFI). In order to operationalize the independent remuneration variable, in addition to using the monthly salary and the variable salary, three indexes that have been especially created for this paper were used: benefits, career and development. These indexes measure the access to benefits, the fostering mechanisms and the support to career, and also the mechanisms fostering the education and the professional development. These are items the companies offer their officers, vice presidents and CEOs, which are referred to in this paper as executives. These remuneration data refer to the fiscal year of 2006. In order to operationalize the financial performance variable, three accounting indicators are used growth of sales, return on equity and net margin for the fiscal years of 2006 and 2007. The companies size is used as a control variable and is measured by the natural logarithm of the number of employees. The research hypothesis that there is a positive and significant relation between the remuneration of executives and the financial performance of companies in the context of the Brazilian marketplace is verified by means of a set of statistical tests of: the Mann-Whitney test, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The results of the Mann-Whitney test do not present any evidences that there actually is a relation between variables. The Pearson correlation analysis shows weak and negative associations between the following variables: a) index of career and growth of sales in 2006; b) index of career and return on equity in 2006; c) index of development and return on equity in 2006. While Spearman correlation analysis points out: a) weak and positive association between the index of benefits and the net margin in 2006; b) weak and negative association between the development index and return on equity in 2006. The results of the multiple regression analysis do not allow to evidence the existence of a positive and significant relation between the remuneration of executives and the financial performance of companies. The contributions of this thesis are in producing broader concepts in order to operationalize the variables, study the relation in the context of the Brazilian marketplace and open up perspectives for the development of new academic studies.

Continuous changes taking place in the business environment require organisations to adapt constantly to new realities, new products, new technologies, and new concepts. The manner in which organisations create and sustain competitive advantage is therefore one of the fundamental questions in the field of strategic management research. Most concepts taught in business schools are largely based on research in American and European countries. Previous research work has also shown that there are clear key differences in concepts used across regions, industries, and company size. These arguments therefore led one to conclude that there is a lack of research available on popular concepts used by local companies and the impact on their financial performance, hence the purpose of this research study. This research was the first research study and therefore a pioneering study in establishing concepts used in the South African context. This research, in a small measure, attempted to build concepts based on local research. The objectives of this study were firstly to identify the popular concepts used by JSE listed companies in formulating and implementing their strategy; and secondly, to establish the effect of these popular concepts on financial performance. The research was quantitative and descriptive in nature. Self-administered questionnaires were sent to 250 CEO’s of the JSE listed companies out of whom 35 completed the survey. The popular concepts used by JSE listed companies in formulating and implementing their strategy were identified; and the effect on financial performance were established. The popular concepts used by JSE listed companies in formulating and implementing their strategy identified were the concepts “environmental analysis”, “strategic positioning”, “growth”, “customer focused/ customer relationship management”, and “shareholder return/ shareholder value”. The following relationships were found to be significant and important: The relationship between “environmental analysis” and market capitalisation from years 1 to 3 and years 2 to 3 show a negative relationship; and The relationship between “environmental analysis” and share price from years 1 to 3 and years 2 to 3 show a negative relationship. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / ccgibs2014 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Sustainability Reporting amongst corporates has been growing in prominence with, amongst others, the Principles for Responsible Investment outlined in 2005, the King III Report published in 2010 and International Integrated Reporting framework published in late 2011. The need for analysing the business case for sustainability reporting underpins the motivation for this research which undertook to ascertain the link between certain organisational attributes, sustainability reporting and financial performance. The literature review identified conflicting results in similar studies, and given that this is a fast evolving field of study, this study was deemed necessary. A quantitative research method was used utilising financial and operational data for 200 South African organisations, in an attempt to study the correlation between key organisational attributes, sustainability reporting frameworks, and financial performance. This research adds to the ongoing and dynamic ‘business case for sustainability’ discussion, by studying the links and correlations between the quality of sustainability reporting, specific organisational attributes and key financial performance ratios. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

There is much debate amongst academics regarding the contribution of women on corporate boards, particularly, the effect on financial performance. There has been a stride post democracy to ensure equality in South Africa. Although there has been progress, the percentage of women on corporate boards is still microscopic. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of board gender diversity on financial performance of publicly listed companies. Similar studies have been conducted in other countries with equivocal results implying that results are country-specific. Quantitative research methodology was employed, where financial ratios ROE, ROA and Tobin's Q, of companies with gender diverse boards were compared to those of companies whose boards are not considered gender diverse. Gender diverse boards are defined in this study as boards with 25 percent or more female representation on boards. Differences in financial performance of companies with gender diverse boards across industries were also examined. ROE and ROA mean scores were higher for the gender diverse group, whereas, mean scores of the market-based ratio Tobin‟s Q were higher in the group whose boards were not gender diverse. Market-based results are subjective and influenced by investors and analysts perceptions. Tobin‟s Q was higher in industries with lower percentages of women on boards; however, these results were not statistically significant. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The research examines the effect between corporate governance and company-specific variables to financial performance among a sample of long-term insurance companies in South Africa from 2011 to 2016. The study employed a panel regression technique using board size, board independence, audit committee size and CEO tenure as proxies for corporate governance while controlling for firm size, reinsurance usage and leverage. The proxies used for financial performance were underwriting profits, return on assets (ROA) and returns on equity (ROE). The findings show that board size is the only corporate governance variable that is statistically significant with financial performance in the sample of South African longterm insurance providers. The remaining corporate governance variables did not have a statistically significant relationship with financial performance because each company in the sample set them in line with the recommendations outlined in the King Report IV on Corporate Governance. The implication of the adherence to the recommendations in the King Report IV on Corporate Governance reduced the variation in corporate governance structures between the companies in the sample. The findings also show leverage as the only control variable that is statistically significant with financial performance in the sample. The dissertation recommends that the corporate governance guidelines outlined in the King Report IV on Corporate Governance be made statutory in the South African longterm insurance sector, because these guidelines do not adversely affect the financial performance in a statistically significant way. Further, the dissertation recommends a board size ceiling be set in the sector to address the observed negative and statistically significant relationship between board size and financial performance. Finally, the dissertation recommends the use of regulation to limit the amount of leverage that companies in the sector can take on to address the observed negative and statistically significant relationship between leverage and financial performance.

Thesis (MTech (Entrepreneurship))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2020 / Often effectively excluded by formal financial systems, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries have found in Mobile Money services an efficient and cost effective means of availing themselves of financial services without holding bank accounts. In order to provide meaningful recommendations to the stakeholders of the banking sector of Cameroon, small and medium-sized enterprises, Mobile Money service providers, and relevant state organs, this study was conducted to investigate the influence of Mobile Money services on the financial performance of SMEs in two markets in Douala in Cameroon. A mixed methods research design was employed to conduct the study. The quantitative data was collected through the administration of a survey questionnaire and the qualitative data from one-on-one in-depth interviews. By means of snowball sampling, a sample of 285 SMEs was obtained to respond to the survey questionnaire, while the researcher used purposive sampling to select the owners or managing directors of twelve of the respondents to participate in the interviews. Version 25 of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software was used to analyse the quantitative data, while the qualitative data was subjected to thematic analysis. Correlation and regression analyses yielded that independent variables pertaining to the adoption of Mobile Money services by the respondents to the questionnaire predicted of the order of 73 percent of variance with respect to increased sales turnover. Most of the twelve interviewees perceived that their business operations had improved significantly after they had begun making and receiving payments in the form of Mobile Money transactions. The participants in the study used Mobile Money mainly to receive money, send money, and buy airtime and a significant majority perceived that Mobile Money services were more cost effective than those of banks. Convenience, safety, and accessibility were the attributes of Mobile Money which the participants cited as having provided their principal motivations for electing to register as users of Mobile Money services. It could be concluded that Mobile Money services exerted a significant positive influence on the financial performance of the SMEs of the participants in the study. On the basis of the conclusions which were drawn from the findings, recommendations were made to the owners of SMEs in Douala, the Ministry of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Social Economy, and Handicrafts and Mobile Money service providers. The findings of the study underscore the role of Mobile Money services as an effective means of increasing financial inclusion and financial performance and could be useful to academics, owners and managers of SMEs, financial institutions in Cameroon and elsewhere, and also relevant policy makers.

The purpose:  This research principal target is to investigate the correlation between the financial profitability (EBIT) of 101 most profitable companies (2018) in the United States; and their leadership demographics. Research question:  To what extent does diversity correlate with the financial performance of the most profitable companies in the United States? Methodology This study was based on a quantitative research approach Cross-sectional was used as a study design to be able to investigate the relationship between the variables at 1 point in the time.                                                                    Regressions analysis was used as the method of analysis, to be able to explain to what extend the variable are correlated with each other and to be able to perform hypothesis tests.  Result: Results from this study emphasize that there is no credible evidence that profitability in 2018 is somehow affected by the concentration of women and minorities in the management board. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study has not found a concrete connection between diversity concentration in the management level and profitability.

La presente investigación analiza el capital intelectual (CI) como determinante de la rentabilidad financiera de los bancos. Para lo cual, se analizó 43 empresas del sector bancario de Perú, Chile y Colombia durante 2014 hasta 2018 en un panel de datos balanceados. La metodología utilizada tiene en cuenta la relación estática y dinámica, entre el CI y el rendimiento financiero. Para evaluar la relación estática se aplica regresiones de datos de panel como pooled OLS y efectos fijos (FE). Mientras que para evaluar la relación dinámica se aplica el modelo GMM para resolver problemas de endogeneidad. Los hallazgos obtenidos demuestran que un aumento en las inversiones de CI conduce a una mayor rentabilidad financiera de la empresa. Los componentes del CI (como el capital estructural y capital humano) también indican un impacto positivo con respecto a las medidas de rentabilidad, respaldando así la teoría de dependencia de recursos (RD) y del aprendizaje organizacional (OL). Dado que hay pocas investigaciones realizadas para países en desarrollo, la originalidad está en evaluar el impacto que se tiene en la rentabilidad financiera a través del CI, para economías emergentes como la de Perú, Chile y Colombia. / The present investigation analyses the intellectual capital (CI) as a determinant of the financial profitability of the banks. For which, 43 companies in the banking sector of Peru, Chile and Colombia were analysed during 2014 until 2018 in a balanced data panel. The methodology used takes into account the static and dynamic relationship between the IC and financial performance. To evaluate the static relationship, panel data regressions such as pooled OLS and fixed effects (FE) are applied. While to evaluate the dynamic relationship the GMM model is applied to solve endogeneity problems. The findings obtained show that an increase in CI investments leads to greater financial profitability of the company. The components of the IC (such as structural capital and human capital) also indicate a positive impact with respect to profitability measures, thus supporting the theory of resource dependence (RD) and organizational learning (OL). Since there is little research done for developing countries, the originality is to evaluate the impact on financial profitability through the IC, for emerging economies such as Peru, Chile and Colombia. / Trabajo de investigación

Environmental management plays one of the key roles in the current corporate world due to its benefits on brand identity, competitiveness, and customer satisfaction The relationship between environmental management and financial performance has been the focus of many studies in the recent 20 years, however, a steady conclusion is missing on this topic. The impact of environmental management on financial performance in Swedish SMEs in the energy sector has been investigated in this quantitative study. By performing Generalized Least Squares modeling using panel data with 328 observations from Swedish SMEs in the energy sector, the study suggested that environmental management practices do affect a firm’s financial performance. The study emphasis that the green innovation is one of the most important criteria which keeps ahead of its peers in the sector. Another key component in green practices is obtaining ISO14001 certification to promote continual quality. The study also proves that the ratio between male and female executives has no impact on the environmental management of a firm.