I investigate the association between large shareholder heterogeneity and firms' accounting quality and information asymmetry. Specifically, I construct three measures of ownership heterogeneity based on the type, size, and monitoring aggressiveness of large shareholders present in a firm. Applying these three measures of heterogeneity, I examine whether large shareholder heterogeneity is associated with the variation in firms' accounting quality and information asymmetry. I also examine new block formations to provide evidence on the consequences of large shareholder investment on firms' accounting quality and information asymmetry. I find that the monitoring aggressiveness of large shareholders is positively associated with firms' accounting quality and information asymmetry. These findings suggest that large aggressive shareholders constrain earnings management, but contribute to firms' overall information asymmetry. Further, using new blockholder data, I find that investments by large aggressive shareholders are positively associated with firms' accounting quality and firms' information asymmetry in the post investment period. This finding provides additional support to my hypotheses that large shareholders play an important role in firms' accounting quality and information asymmetry. / by Joseph E. Trainor. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Research linking marketing to financial outputs has been gaining significance in the marketing discipline. The pertinent questions are, therefore: how can marketing improve measures of firm performance and draw potential investors to the company, and where is the quantitative proof to back up these assertions? This research investigates the role of marketing expenditures in the context of initial public offerings (IPOs). The proposed theoretical framework comes from marketing and finance literature, and uses econometric models to test the hypotheses. First, we replicate the results of a previous study by Luo (2008) showing a relationship between the firm's pre-IPO marketing spending and IPO underpricing. Next, we extend the previous study by looking at the IPO's long-run returns, types of risk, analyst coverage, and market/industry characteristics. The results of this study, based on a sample of 2,103 IPOs from 1996 to 2008, suggest that increased marketing spending positively impac ts firm performance. We examine different measures of firm performance, such as risk and long-run performance, whose results are important to the firm, its shareholders, and potential investors. This study analyzes the impact marketing spending has on IPO characteristics (IPO underpricing in the short-run and cumulative abnormal returns in the long run); risk characteristics (systematic, unsystematic, bankruptcy risk, and total risk); analyst coverage characteristics (the number of analysts, optimistic coverage, and forecast error) and market characteristics (market volatility and industry type). We control for variables such as firm size, profitability, and IPO characteristics. In this paper, the results show that increased marketing spending lowers underpricing, lowers bankruptcy risk, lowers total risk, leads to greater analyst coverage, leads to more favorable analyst coverage, and lowers analyst forecast error. For theory, this paper advances the literature on the / marketing-financ e interface by extending the market-based assets and signaling theories. For practice, the results indicate that spending more money on marketing before the IPO and disclosing this information produces positive bottom-line results for the firm. KEYWORDS: Marketing-Finance, Risk, Financial Analysts, Marketing Spending, Firm Performance, Marketing Strategy Meets Wall Street, Long-Run Firm Performance, Underpricing, Stock Recommendations, Initial Public Offering, Marketing Strategy, Econometric Model. / by Monica B. Fine. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2012. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Compensation Services manages return to work, wage loss, pension and health-care benefits to injured workers, and those suffering from occupational diseases. This thesis presents the methodology and results of a comprehensive study conducted to determine the relationships between existing performance measures, quantify the factors influencing these performance measures, and deterrriine relative efficiencies across case management operations. We use principal components analysis, cluster analysis, and multiple regression to derive the relationships between performance outcomes and influencing factors. We then use data envelopment analysis, incorporating these multiple inputs and outputs, to assess overall relative efficiencies and set performance targets. The analysis has brought about an increased understanding of service delivery location performance and performance measurement. Results may be used to provide managerial decision support, communicate best practices, and serve as a basis for further efficiency or quality initiatives. The factors accounted for in the multivariate analysis can explain between 20% - 50% of the variability in key performance outcomes across case management desks. The overall efficiency analysis revealed strong performers both within case management offices and across regions. Four case management offices consistently contain strongperforming case management desks across several methods of evaluating efficiency. Transferring best practices has the potential to significantly increase relative efficiency improvements for case management desks across the province.

Thesis (MComm (Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The leadership-for-performance framework designed by Spangenberg and Theron (2004) aspires to explicate the structural relationships existing between leader competency potential, leadership competencies, leadership outcomes and the dimensions of organizational unit performance. The Performance Index (PI) and Leadership Behaviour Inventory (LBI) comprise the leadership-forperformance range of measures. The PI was developed as a comprehensive criterion measure of unit performance for which the unit leader could be held responsible. The basic PI structural model has been developed to explain the manner in which the various latent leadership dimensions measured by the LBI affect the eight unit performance latent variables that are assessed by the PI. Although preliminary research suggests the basic PI structural model could be refined, continued research in this regard can only be justified if the basic PI measurement model is shown to be measurement invariant across independent samples from the target population. As part of ongoing research of the leadership-for-performance range of measures, this crossvalidation study investigated the extent to which the PI measurement model may be considered measurement invariant across two independent samples from the same population. Two samples were collected through non-probability sampling procedures and included 277 and 375 complete cases after imputation by matching. Item analysis and dimensionality analysis were performed on each of the PI sub-scales prior to the formation of item parcels. No items were excluded based on item- and dimensionality analysis results. Two composite indicator variables (item parcels) were created from the items of each sub-scale and were treated as continuous variables in the subsequent statistical analyses. Structural equation modelling, using robust maximum likelihood estimation, was used to perform a confirmatory first-order factor analysis on the item parcels for each sample. The measurement model was fitted to both samples independently and close fit for each sample was established. The measurement model was cross-validated using a progressive series of measurement invariance tests. Results indicated the PI measurement model did not display full measurement invariance across the two samples although it did cross-validate successfully under the configural invariance condition. Statistically significant non-equivalence was found to exist in both the measurement error variances and the factor covariances (p<0,05), although the p<0,05 critical value was only narrowly surpassed in both cases. The measurement model did, however, display metric invariance across the samples as no significant differences were found between the factor loadings, suggesting the content of each item is perceived and interpreted in a similar manner across samples from the target population. When considered in combination, these results may be viewed as quite satisfactory as they indicate that themeasurement model does not appear to vary greatly when fitted to data from the two samples. As this study has established at least metric invariance of the PI, it therefore provides some basis of confidence for proceeding with subsequent research aimed at establishing the structural invariance of the basic PI structural model and eventually research that links the leadership behaviour to work unit performance as measured by the PI. Limitations of this study are discussed.

Assignment (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The responsibility for the performance of any organisational unit ultimately lies with the leadership of the unit. Given this perceived pivotal role of leadership in work unit performance, the ultimate objective is to capture the nature of the presumed relationship between leadership and unit performance in a comprehensive structural model. To validate such a leadership model, however, requires an explanation of the manner in which the unit performance dimensions affect each other. Spangenberg and Theron (2002b) developed a generic, standardized unit performance measure (PI) that encompasses all the unit performance dimensions for which the unit leader could be held responsible. The objective of this paper is to investigate the internal structure of the PI in order to establish the inter-relationships between the eight unit performance latent variables. The PI consists of 56 questions covering eight dimensions. The validation sample consisted of 304 completed PI questionnaires. However, after imputation 273 cases with observations on all 56 items remained in the validation sample. Item analysis and dimensionality analysis was performed on each of the sub-scales using SPSS. Thereafter, confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the reduced data set using LISREL. The results indicated satisfactory factor loadings on the measurement model. Acceptable model fit was achieved for the measurement model. Subsequently, the structural model was tested using LISREL. The results provided statistics of good fit. Only four hypotheses failed to be corroborated in this study. Conclusions were drawn from the results obtained and suggestions for further research are made. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die prestasie van enige organisatoriese werkeenheid is die uiteindelike verantwoordelikheid van die leierskap van die eenheid. Gegewe hierdie waargenome sleutelrol van leierskap in werkeenheidprestasie, is die uiteindelike doelwit om die aard van die veronderstelde verwantskap tussen leierskap en eenheidprestasie in 'n omvattende strukturele model vas te lê. Die validering van so 'n leierskapmodel vereis egter 'n uiteensetting van die wyse waarop die eenheidprestasie-dimensies mekaar onderling beïnvloed. Spangenberg en Theron (2002b) het 'n generiese, gestandaardiseerde eenheidprestasie-meetinstrument (PI) ontwikkel wat al die eenheidprestasie-dimensies insluit waarvoor die leier van die eenheid verantwoordelik gehou kan word. Die doel van hierdie studie is om ondersoek in te stel na die interne struktuur van die PI ten einde die inter-verwantskappe tussen die agt eenheidprestasie latente veranderlikes vas te stel. Die PI bestaan uit 56 vrae wat die agt dimensies dek. Die validasiesteekproef bestaan uit 304 voltooide PI vraelyste. Na vervanging van ontbrekende waardes is die validasiesteekproef egter gereduseer tot 273 gevalle met waarnemings op al 56 items. Item-ontleding en dimensieanalise is op elk van die sub-skale met behulp van SPSS gedoen. Daaropvolgend is bevestigende faktor-analise op die verkorte datastel gedoen met behulp van LISREL. Die passingstatistieke het hier aanvaarbare resultate opgelewer. Vervolgens is die strukturele model met behulp van LISRELgetoets. Die resultate het hier bevredigende passingstatistieke gelewer. Daar kon vir slegs vier hipoteses nie steun gevind word in die studie nie. Op grond van die resultate is daar tot bepaalde gevolgtrekkings gekom en daar word aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing gemaak.

Mini-thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Public Management in the Faculty of Business at the CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY 2013 / Gillis (2004:1) stated in her publication in Communication World that “employees are the lifeblood of an organisation.” Local governments, both in South Africa and abroad, are increasingly faced with the need to change for a number of reasons, one of which is to change so as to become more responsive and improve performance. As local government devises means to attain the objectives of performance management, how does it ensure that performance management objectives are mainstreamed within the organisation? Academic writers agree that staff resistances are counterproductive to the efforts made by any municipality to introduce performance management systems with the aim of bringing about effective and efficient service to its constituents. The key to avoiding staff resistances, which all organisations have to take account of, is communicating with employees. The writer suggests that this process is necessary and unavoidable, yet it is almost always ignored. The main aim of this study was to review the communication practices underpinning the Balance Scorecard (BSC) performance management system within the Cape Town Metropolitan Police Department (CTMPD). Tentative discussions with the metropolitan police department’s middle and low level managers indicated little understanding of how the BSC fits into the CTMPD’s accountability measures. At regular senior management meetings, called the Operational Management Forum (OMF), in 2011, the researcher learnt from operational directors and managers that they were not properly consulted with regard to the BSC system and that the implementation of the system was not adequately communicated. Managers claimed that only a short presentation was given in 2009 and it was then expected that middle managers would achieve the desired results and attain objectives towards which they had very little input. They have since become disillusioned and have resorted to focussing solely on ensuring that they spend their budgets with little understanding that there is more to the BSC than financial measurements. Thus the research questions were posed: why was performance management introduced within the CTMPD and what guidelines can be provided to improve how performance management is communicated to managers? A questionnaire was used to gain insight into this; it was administered to middle management within the CTMPD. The main findings of the research were that the respondents have an understanding of performance management. Another finding was that the majority of the respondents were not trained in the BSC performance management system. The researcher thus recommended that the safety and security training college be tasked to develop a training workshop, with the help of the support services manager. In addition, the researcher also recommended that the support services division ensures that candidates eligible for middle management positions be tested on their core communication skills and understanding of performance management principles prior to appointment.

Compensation Services manages return to work, wage loss, pension and health-care benefits to injured workers, and those suffering from occupational diseases. This thesis presents the methodology and results of a comprehensive study conducted to determine the relationships between existing performance measures, quantify the factors influencing these performance measures, and deterrriine relative efficiencies across case management operations. We use principal components analysis, cluster analysis, and multiple regression to derive the relationships between performance outcomes and influencing factors. We then use data envelopment analysis, incorporating these multiple inputs and outputs, to assess overall relative efficiencies and set performance targets. The analysis has brought about an increased understanding of service delivery location performance and performance measurement. Results may be used to provide managerial decision support, communicate best practices, and serve as a basis for further efficiency or quality initiatives. The factors accounted for in the multivariate analysis can explain between 20% - 50% of the variability in key performance outcomes across case management desks. The overall efficiency analysis revealed strong performers both within case management offices and across regions. Four case management offices consistently contain strongperforming case management desks across several methods of evaluating efficiency. Transferring best practices has the potential to significantly increase relative efficiency improvements for case management desks across the province. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / Please refer to full text for abstract.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Managing any government institution has become increasingly complicated as the requirements for accountability, streamlined operations and greater flexibility have multiplied. Being a government institution but at the same time an institution of higher education, managing the Faculty of Military Science becomes a daunting task. It requires sophisticated approaches for implementing strategy and measuring performance. Employees are asked to change how they view their work and focus on results, not activities. While not asking the impossible, it is a challenging task. Formal accountability for outcomes down the line has simply not been a marker of the bureaucratic culture. As leadership looks for ways to support employees in this transition, it is vital that a comprehensive management system is deployed. For employees to focus on the outcomes of their individual performance, they must: • understand what the standards for organisational performance are; • participate in measuring how well those standards have been met; and • be responsible for finding ways to improve organisational performance. The Balanced Scorecard can help. This approach is one that is gaining currency as an easy to use and accessible process for measuring organisational effectiveness. It can be applied at any level and any type of organisation. The objectives and measures for the Balanced Scorecard are derived from the organisation's vision and strategy. These objectives and measures describe the progress of the organisation from four perspectives. These perspectives can vary from organisation to organisation and in the case of the Faculty of Military Science they include, the stakeholder perspective, the customer perspective, the internal processes perspective and the learning and growth perspective. It is a balanced model, because the measures represent an equilibrium between external measures for stakeholders and customers, and internal measures of business processes and learning and growth. The construction of the Balanced Scorecard is a systematic process, which ensures that the organisation's objectives and measures are made clear and that there is consensus in this regard. The success of the process depends on the participation of top management. The most important person in the process is the leader or "architect. A Balanced Scorecard can be constructed in 16 weeks, with high involvement of the leader in the beginning of the process. The Balanced Scorecard must be used as a strategic management system. It helps to clarify and to gain consensus about vision and strategy of the organisation, which should be communicated throughout the organisation. It is also useful in the establishment of objectives for each employee, the allocation of resources and the alignment of strategic initiatives, This study is directed towards the relevant literature on the Balanced Scorecard and the possible use thereof as a management system in an institution for higher education, specifically the Faculty of Military Science. To this end a thorough literature study was undertaken, focusing on the origins of the Balanced Scorecard, the developing and implementation thereof as well as the Balanced Scorecard as a strategic management system. The study further determined the applicability of the Balanced Scorecard to institutions for higher education, looking at the University of California, San Diego, as an example. In the final instance a Balanced Scorecard is proposed for the Faculty of Military Science, with certain recommendations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toenemende druk op staatsinstellings om meer aanspreeklikheid te aanvaar, aktiwiteite meer vaartbelyn uit te voer en om meer buigsaam in hul optrede te wees, veroorsaak dat die bestuur van sulke instellings toenemend kompleks begin word. Die bestuur van die Fakulteit Krygskunde, 'n staatsinstelling, maar ook 'n instelling vir hoër onderwys, bied dus 'n geweldige uitdaging. Dit vereis daarom 'n gesofistikeerde benadering tot die implementering van 'n strategie en die meet van prestasie. Van werknemers word verwag om hul siening van werk te verander deur te fokus op resultate eerder as op aktiwiteite - 'n uitdaging op sy eie. Aanspreeklikheid vir die bereiking van resultate op lae vlakke in 'n staatsinstelling was nog nooit deel van 'n burokratiese kultuur nie. Vir leierskap om werknemers met hierdie aanpassing te ondersteun, is 'n omvattende bestuurstelsel nodig. Vir werknemers om te fokus op die uitkomste van hul individuele prestasies, moet hulle: • die prestasiestandaarde van die organisasie verstaan; • deelneem om te bepaal tot watter mate die standaarde bereik is; en • verantwoordelikheid neem om te bepaal hoe die prestasie van die organisasie verbeter kan word. Dit wat 'n organisasie meet en hoe die resultate daarvan gekommunikeer word lewer 'n sleutel bydrae t.o.v die voortdurende verbetering van prestasie deur die werknemers. Die "Balanced Scorecard" kan op hierdie gebied 'n groot bydrae lewer. Dit is 'n benadering wat wye veld wen as 'n eenvoudige en toeganklike proses om die effektiewiteit van 'n organisasie te meet. Die benadering kan op enige vlak en enige tipe organisasie toegepas word. Die doelwitte en maatstawwe vir die "Balanced Scorecard" word direk afgelei uit die organisasie se visie en strategie. Hierdie doelwitte en maatstawwe beskryf die organisasie se vordering uit vier perspektiewe. Hierdie perspektiewe kan wissel van organisasie tot organisasie en in die geval van die Fakutteit Krygskunde sluit dit in, die belanghebber perspektief, die kliente perspektief, die interne prosesse perspektief en die leer- en groeiperspektief. Die model word as gebalanseerd beskou omdat dit 'n ewewig tussen die eksterne maatstawwe (vir aandeelhouers, belanghebbers en kliente) en interne maatstawwe (besigheidsporosesse en leer- en groeifasette) handhaaf. Die bou van 'n "Balanced Scorecard" is 'n sistematiese proses, wat konsensus en duidelikheid met betrekking tot die organisasie se doelwitte en maatstawwe verseker. Die sukses van die hele proses berus egter op die ondersteuning en deelname van die topbestuur. Die belangrikste persoon in die hele proses is die leier of "argitek". 'n "Balanced Scorecard" kan binne 16 weke voltooi word, met die leier se betrokkenheid baie hoog aan die begin van die hele proses. Die "Balanced Scorecard" moet as 'n strategiese bestuurstelsel gebruik word. Dit kan help om die visie en strategie duidelik te stel en om konsensus daaroor te bereik. Dit moet aan die hele organisasie gekommunikeer word. Dit is verder nuttig in die opstel van doelwitte vir elke werknemer, die allokasie van hulpbronne en die rig van strategiese inisiatiewe. Hierdie studie is gerig tot die relevante literatuur t.o.v die "Balanced Scorecard" en die potensiele gebruik daarvan as 'n bestuurstelsel by 'n instelling van hoër onderwys, en spesifiek die Fakulteit Krygskunde. 'n Deeglike literatuurstudie is gedoen oor die oorsprong van die "Balanced Scorecard", die ontwikkeling en implementering daarvan, asook die aanwending van die "Balanced Scorecard" as 'n strategiese bestuurstelsel. Die studie het ook die toepaslikheid van die "Balanced Scorecard" ondersoek deur te verwys na die Universiteit van Kalifornie, San Diego as 'n voorbeeld. In die finale instansie word 'n "Balanced Scorecard" voorgestel vir die Fakulteit Krygskunde met sekere aanbevelings.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. 19 September 2016. / High manufacturing competitiveness in South Africa has the potential to contribute towards mitigating the poor economic performance and high unemployment rate prevailing in the country. However, manufacturing competitiveness is lacking, majorly due to labour productivity issues that are idiosyncratic to South Africa. One of the dilemmas is how to increase manufacturing productivity without major capitalisation, as doing so usually leads to redundancy and retrenchment of employees. A possible solution is to implement manufacturing performance improvement programmes without major capital investment (or capital-labour substitution). Although various programmes exist and are successful elsewhere in the world, these have been found to fail in South African firms due to implementation challenges. This study assesses the results from implementing a manufacturing performance improvement programme called Integrated Work Systems (IWS) in a South African factory of a multinational company (ABC). IWS has already proven successful in the multinational’s factories in other parts of the world. The study aims to determine the critical success-factors and develop a framework for the successful implementation of such a programme in South Africa. Implementation of IWS in ABC SA’s factory was found to be successful in delivering breakthrough results in efficiency and throughput. Critical success-factors established through surveying relevant employees and management in ABC SA were related to the timing and planning of the programme, standardisation of work, regular reviewing and use of leading KPIs, having specific implementation resources and the nature of leadership involvement. The critical success-factors found in ABC SA’s implementation were used as a basis for presenting a framework to guide practitioners in implementing manufacturing improvement programmes that aim to deliver higher levels of sustainable performance and improved shop-floor culture. / MT2017