本研究以文獻分析法及實地訪談法等方式，以剖析台灣原住民族土地財產權制度從共同所有到個別所有的演變關係。研究主題包括：一、明析原住民族土地財產權制度演變歷程的要因與結果；二、明析日治時期迄今，不同統治者標舉「理蕃」政策或山地政策所隱含的決策目的，及統治者實現其決策目的採取的行為措施，暨這些決策目的與行為措施如何影響原住民族土地財產權制度演變；三、明析原住民族土地財產權制度演變的結果，對於原住民族的發展造成何種影響。 透過上述研究主題，希望達成三點目的：一、分析日治時期迄今，原住民族土地財產權制度從共同所有演變為個別所有的過程、原因與結果，俾能連貫相關文獻的成果；二、分析日治時期迄今，統治政權賦予原住民族土地權利所隱含的決策目的、採取的行為措施，及其影響原住民族土地財產權制度演變之進程，以檢討「理蕃」政策或山地政策是否達成為原住民族謀求福祉的目標；三、分析原住民族土地財產權制度演變對於原住民族發展的影響，以供未來重新建構原住民族土地財產權制度的參考。 研究進行期間，除蒐集並整理研析關於原住民族土地財產權制度之相關文獻，作為建立研究架構及佐證研究內容之基礎外，更深入山地鄉瞭解原住民族對土地財產權問題之意見，俾使論證內容更為周延有據。茲摘述研究發現如次： 一、日治初期原住民族社會慣行的土地財產權制度方面 （一）部落為領域內土地財產權最大的共同所有團體。 （二）部落內耕地、獵地或漁區歸屬組成部落之社經團體共同所有。 （三）組成社經團體之家族（家庭）享有其範圍內土地之使用、收益權。 （四）共同所有之土地財產權，無繼受問題；惟土地之支配、管理者隨部落或社經團體之領導者更迭而變更。 （五）土地之使用、收益權，依各族群之家產法則繼受。 二、土地財產權制度演變對於原住民族發展之影響方面 （一）原住民族產權領域急遽限縮，個別原住民使用保留地的權利範圍亦趨於微小，平均每人不超過3甲土地。 （二）原住民族土地利用型態，由日治初期之「半耕、半獵」變成目前的定耕農業。 （三）原住民族與平地人民的所得差距，益趨擴大，且所得來源以非農業收入為主。另者，山地原住民仰賴保留地為生甚深，但其土地生產力仍屬偏低。顯示賦予原住民族土地財產權個別所有，仍無法提昇其經濟能力。 三、不同時期政府政策影響原住民族土地財產權制度演變之比較方面 （一）日治時期統治者之「理蕃」政策以攫取山地資源，回饋其宗主國經濟需求為要；光復時期統治者之山地政策在於維持原住民族社會安定，以鞏固政權為要。 （二）日治時期統治者之決策措施為「理蕃」措施；光復時期統治者之決策措施為山地政策措施。 （三）日治時期統治者之執行機制，以武力裝備的山地警察為主；光復時期統治者以不具武力裝備的一般行政機關為之。 四、詮釋分析觀點之事實方面 （一）制度的建立與發展具有累積性的「相互依存」特性，因此日治時期形成高砂族保留地制度授予保留地個別使用權，或光復時期形成原住民保留地制度賦予保留地個別產權，不同時期政府均事先實施相關「理蕃」措施或山地政策措施配合之。 （二）「資源攫取」為影響殖民政府是否實踐、落實「給予一定土地，使其耕種就業」之「理蕃」政策理想的重要因素。 （三）「政權鞏固」為影響政府實踐、落實「改善原住民族生計能力，提高其地位」之山地政策理想，及積極進行增劃編保留地的重要因素。 （四）殖民政府或我政府在面對各種主客觀條件時，均會權衡利弊得失而採取不同方法、手段、措施來趨利避禍、自求多福，以謀求自身最大的福祉與利益。 （五）在原住民族土地財產權演變過程中，因統治者界定高砂族保留地時缺乏考量原住民族傳統土地財產權觀念，且這些觀念仍發揮指導原住民族使用土地的作用，因此殖民政府根本未能有效監督、管理高砂族越界開墾之情事。 綜合本研究之論證與分析，歸納下列幾點結論： 一、日治初期原住民族社會以部落及部落內各種社經組織共同所有土地財產權，而組織成員則享有土地之使用、收益權能，並透過這套原住民族社會公認的土地財產權制度約束其內部的行為規範，達到維持社會秩序，減低護衛土地財產權的交易成本功效。 二、從討論分析瞭解，不同時期政府實施「理蕃」政策及山地政策的結果，未能達成為原住民族謀福祉的政策理想。其因在於，「理蕃」政策以掠奪山地利源為要；而山地政策以鞏固政權為考量，均在謀求統治者自身最大的利益，造成原住民族權益的損失。 三、日治時期迄今，原住民族土地財產權制度從共同所有演變為個別所有的結果，造成原住民族土地財產權不斷流失，且未能有效提昇其經濟能力，使得原住民族之地位日趨沒落。因此，保留地制度及保留地財產權型態允宜適度調整，未來可考量留設一定面積保留地，土地財產權改賦原住民族共同所有，以確保原住民族賴以生存的機盤，並維護其文化存續發展。 四、原住民族土地財產權制度變遷的過程，衍生原住民族與平地人民對於保留地財產權之爭議，政府宜妥適圓滿解決，創造族群共榮的多元社會。 五、本研究以「資源攫取」、「政權鞏固」及「制度相依」等因素分析原住民族土地財產權制度演變的觀點，均能從相關事實獲得合理詮釋。 / This dissertation conducted extensive literature research and field interviews in an attempt to explore the changes from the tribe ownership to the private ownership system of Taiwan aborigines’ land ownership right. The themes and the expected accomplishments of this research include the following: 1. To study the history and current status of Taiwan aboriginal land ownership right, to analyze the causes and consequences of the changes in the past, and to verify the findings with other scholars’ arguments in the literature. 2. To study the ruling mentality, rationale, policies and regulations towards Taiwan aborigines from the Japanese occupants to the ROC government, to analyze the impacts of these policies on Taiwan aboriginal land ownership right, and to explore whether Taiwan aborigines have benefited from such policies and regulations. 3. To study the overall impacts on Taiwan aborigines’ economical and cultural development, which was resulted from the changes to their land ownership right through the execution of different policies. The findings of this research could serve as recommendations to the government in setting up revised aboriginal land reservation policies for Taiwan aborigines. Through extensive literature research and field interviews with a few senior Taiwan aborigines about their memories, comments, and expectations with respect to aboriginal land ownership right, the following facts can be summarized: 1. The Land Ownership Right Before Japanese Occupancy a. The tribe leaders rule the land within a tribe’s territory. b. Each piece of farmland, hunting field, and fishing field belongs to a societal/economical group within a tribe. c. The societal/economical group has the right to farm or hunt on their assigned lands and owns the produce from the lands. d. Because the land is owned by a societal/economical group, there is no inheritance issue. The managing of the land is by the leader of the group. e. Traditionally members in a societal/economical group have the right to farm/hunt on a piece of land as well as to own the produce from the land. 2. The Impact of Land Ownership Right Changes on the Development of Taiwan Aborigines a. The land ownership right policies have limited the accessibility of Taiwan aborigines to land resources. Each aborigine has access to less than three aches of reserved land. b. The land reservation policy limited the aborigines to farm within their reserved land have changed the aborigines’ life style from half time farming and half time hunting to full time farming. c. Because productivity of each aborigine farm on his own reserved land is very low, the gap between the average income of aborigines and nonaborigines has been widening. Besides, the majority of aborigines’ income should come from non-agricultural sources. This reflects the fact that giving aborigines a piece of reserved land did not benefit them economically. 3. The Comparison of Different Land Ownership Right Policies by Different Governments a. The Japanese occupants’ aboriginal policy focused on seizing Taiwan’s mineral, forestry, and agricultural resources. While the ROC government’s aboriginal policy was only reactively trying to keep the stability of the aborigines. b. The Japanese occupant’s aboriginal policy was to “manage” Taiwan aborigines. While the ROC government’s aboriginal policy was a land reservation policy. c. The Japanese occupants ordered armed policemen to implement its aboriginal policy. While the ROC government’s aboriginal policy was executed by civilian officials in local governments. 4. Some Observations a. The Taiwan aboriginal policies by the ROC government and the Japanese occupants have its relationship. The Japanese occupants adopted land reservation policy for the aborigines, which led to private use of reserved lands. The ROC government has consequently adopted a more extensive land reservation policy for aborigines, which led to private ownership of reserved land by all aborigines. The policy of awarding private use privilege of land to aborigines by both governments had always been accompanied by the intention to manage the aborigines. b. Seizing Taiwan’s natural resources was the real agenda by the Japanese occupants behind their slogan of “awarding aborigines land to farm”. c. Maintaining the ROC government’s ruling power was the main interest behind her aboriginal policy of “improving aborigines’ quality of life and social status”. d. Even though the Japanese occupants and the ROC government chose different means and regulations to implement different aboriginal policies, avoiding pressures and satisfying their own agenda was what’s driving their aboriginal policies. e. The Japanese occupants did not appreciate Taiwan aborigines’ perception of land while awarding reserved lands to the aborigines. However the Taiwan aborigines disrespected the boundary of their reserved land, and the issue became unmanageable. Conclusions 1. Before the Japanese occupancy, Taiwan aboriginal tribes and the social/economical groups within the tribes rule the land they use. Members in a social/economical group have usage rights over a piece of land, and own the produce from that land. Because this system was well respected by all aborigines, there was little conflict or social cost with respect to land ownership right. 2. The past aboriginal policies failed to improve the aborigines’ quality of life. The interests of the two governments were either to seize Taiwan’s resources or to secure the ruling government’s political power. Taiwan aborigines’ welfare was sacrificed. 3. Taiwan aborigines’ perception about land ownership right changed from commonly owned by everybody to pieces of privately owned land. This reservation land policy for aborigines not only against the aborigines’ philosophy and lifestyle, but also violated economic principles of efficiency and productivity. Another conflict of interests arose due to competing over the reserved land to the aborigines by the nonaborigines. The land resources reserved for the aborigines have long been diminishing. Consequently, most Taiwan aborigines suffer from economic hardship and social disadvantage. 4. This research has explored the problems in the disputes land reservation policy for the aborigines. The following two recommendations are suggested: a. The government should actively resolve all over the reserved land for the aborigines. This can give back to the aborigines such land they deserve for generations. Resolving land disputes can also improve the relationship between all residence in Taiwan. b. Knowing the disadvantages of privately owning reserved land by aborigines, this research recommends that the government allocates additional portion from the total reserved land to the aborigines, which can be managed by aboriginal tribes and shared by all aborigines. Increasing the accessibility to more natural resources by aborigines will be a direct measure to improve Taiwan aborigines’ economic income, while in the same time, preserve their pride and cultural heritage. 5. This research has based on theories of “seizure of natural resources”, “securing governing power”, and “institutional dependence” to analyze the changes in Taiwan’s aboriginal land ownership right, and its negative impact to Taiwan aborigines’ life. Recommendations to government with respect to modifying the current aboriginal land policy were suggested.

Bakgrund: Hållbarhetsredovisning har blivit en viktigare del för de svenska företagen vilket visas i den signifikanta ökningen av omfattningen och kvaliteten av hållbarhetsredovisningen som har skett den senaste tiden. Ett flertal studier har tidigare studerat sambandet mellan hållbarhetsredovisningen och faktorer som storlek, branschtillhörighet och synlighet. Det finns däremot en avsaknad på studier av sambandet mellan faktorer som ledningens syn på hållbarhetsredovisning, företagskultur, ägarform och hållbarhetsredovisningens omfattning. Kommunala och privata bostadsbolag är exempel på bolag där ägandeformen skiljer sig åt och en studie med dessa bolag kan därmed bidra till forskningsområdet. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att jämföra privata och kommunala bostadsbolags omfattning av hållbarhetsredovisning Metod: Denna kvantitativa studie utförs genom en deduktiv ansats där hypoteser formuleras utifrån befintliga teorier. Genom en innehållsanalys av sekundärdata bestående av årsredovisningar och hållbarhetsredovisningar från 30 kommunala och 30 privata bostadsbolag operationaliseras omfattningen av hållbarhetsrapportering. Datan används sedan som underlag till OLS-regression. Slutsats: Studiens resultat visar att ägandeformen har en påverkan på omfattningen av hållbarhetsredovisning i form av ett signifikant positivt samband mellan kommunalt ägande av bostadsbolag och omfattningen av hållbarhetsredovisning. Utav måtten storlek, lönsamhet, risk och jämlikhet så visar endast storlek ett signifikant samband med omfattningen av hållbarhetsredovisning. Det går därmed att konstatera ägandeformen är en viktig faktor att ta i beaktande vid undersökningar av hållbarhetsredovisningar / Introduction: Sustainability reporting has become an important aspect for Swedish companies, which has been shown by the significant increase of the magnitude and quality sustainability reports as of late. A considerable amount of previous studies has examined the relationship between variables such as size, industry affiliation and visibility with the extent of sustainability reports. Managerial attitudes, company culture and ownership are however factors which are less researched when related to the extent of reported sustainability. Studies can thereby be made on municipally and privatelyowned housing companies, seeing as the ownership differs between the two organizations, in order to contribute to the field of research. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the extent of reported sustainability in municipally and privately-owned housing companies. Method: This quantitative study is executed through a deductive approach in which hypotheses are formulated through existing theories. The extent of reported sustainability is operationalized through a content analysis on secondary data consisting of annual reports and sustainability reports collected from 30 municipally and 30 privately owned housing companies. The collected data is then analysed with OLS- regression analysis. Conclusion: The results of the study show a correlation between the variable ownership and the extent of reported sustainability in the form of a significant positive correlation between municipally owned housing companies and the extent of reported sustainability. Out of the measures; size, profitability, risk and equality which were tested in the study, only size showed a significant correlation with the extent of reported sustainability. The study thereby concludes that ownership is an important variable to take into consideration when studying sustainability reports.

[pt] Esta tese de doutorado está dividida em três ensaios que têm como característica comum a análise de questões empíricas sobre o sistema bancário brasileiro. No primeiro ensaio, a estrutura concorrencial do mercado bancário brasileiro é estudada com o objetivo de avaliar se bancos públicos têm maior ou menor efeito competitivo vis-à-vis bancos privados. Para isso, utiliza-se metodologia de Bresnahan e Reiss (1991) para se estudar competição em mercados locais concentrados. Encontra-se robusta evidência empírica de que bancos públicos têm menores efeitos competitivos do que os bancos privados. No segundo ensaio, estuda-se o efeito da disseminação de uma nova modalidade de crédito no Brasil, o crédito consignado. Nesse tipo de crédito há uma colateralização total através da dedução do pagamento do empréstimo diretamente do salário do devedor. Para conseguirmos medir adequadamente o efeito da introdução da nova modalidade, utilizamos um outro tipo de modalidade de crédito, crédito para a aquisição de veículos, como grupo de controle. Os resultados mostram uma forte queda da taxa de juros e um expressivo aumento do volume de crédito, o que indica que a introdução do crédito consignado teve forte efeito sobre o mercado de crédito no Brasil. No terceiro ensaio, estuda-se a relação entre política monetária e o mercado de crédito bancário. A literatura internacional, tanto empírica como teórica, mostra que o mercado de crédito poderia ter importante papel como amplificador de choques de política monetária. Nesse estudo, o foco será o mercado de crédito bancário e o que a literatura convencionou chamar de canal de crédito bancário. Utilizando uma nova estratégia de identificação, baseada em um estudo de evento em torno da reunião do comitê de política monetária quando decidindo sobre a taxa básica de juros a vigorar na economia, mostra-se que não há evidência do canal de crédito bancário no Brasil. Apesar de o efeito direto da taxa básica de juros sobre o volume e a taxa de juros do crédito ter sido significativo, não se pode relacioná-lo ao canal de crédito bancário, uma vez que bancos menores e/ou menos líquidos não reagem mais a choques de política monetária do que os bancos maiores e/ou mais líquidos. / [en] This PhD thesis is divided in three essays on empirical microeconomics of banking. The first essay evaluates the competitive impact of public banks vis-à-vis private ones. A methodology based on Bresnahan and Reiss (1991) is used to access competition in local concentrated markets. We find robust evidence that, relative to private banks, state- owned banks are anti-competitive. In the second essay the introduction of a new type of credit, the payroll loans, is analyzed. In this type of credit there is a complete collateralization of the debt through the direct withdrawal of the loan payment from the debtor`s salary. In order to properly measure this effect we used another type of credit, automobile loans, as control group. Results show a statistical and economic significant reduction of interest rate and increase of credit volume, which show that the creation of payroll loans had strong effect on the Brazilian credit market. In the third chapter I study the relation between monetary policy and banking credit market. The international literature, both theoretical and empirical, suggests that credit markets could have important role in the amplification of monetary policy shocks. In this essay I focus on the banking credit market and what literature calls banking lending channel. Using a new identification strategy, based on an event study around monetary policy committee reunion setting the basic interest rate target, I find no evidence of banking lending channel in Brazil. Despite the significant direct effect of basic interest rate on credit interest rate and volume, there is no link between this effect and the banking lending channel, since smaller and/or less liquid banks do not react more to the monetary policy shocks than bigger and/or more liquid banks.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration (Entrepreneurship))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / Family-owned businesses have long played a significant role in the economies of the developed countries and are rapidly becoming an equally dominant force in those of developing countries. Family businesses are also recognised as a potential driver of economic growth and the creation of wealth throughout the world. The significant contribution which family businesses have been making to the South African economy over the last 300 years is made evident by the fact that approximately 80% of businesses in South Africa could be classified as family businesses and the equally compelling fact that they comprised of the order of 60% of the companies which were listed on the (JSE) Johannesburg Stock Exchange during its infancy. The main objective of the study was to determine the drivers of planning for succession in family-owned businesses in the township of Gugulethu in Cape Town in South Africa. The study also undertook to investigate the challenges which family-owned businesses encounter as they endeavour to transfer ownership and control from one generation to the next. The fact that although family-owned businesses contribute significantly to the economy, very often they do not survive a generational transition provides ample justification for undertaking to determine the factors which contribute to successful successions. This research study took the form of a real-time, longitudinal study in which the researcher could experience how the succession process unfolds in the family-owned businesses of the respondents and participants who made up the research sample. The study made use of a mixed methods approach to collect and analyse the data. In the quantitative study, questionnaires were administered to 120 owners and managers of family-owned businesses, while the qualitative data were obtained from in-depth interviews with owners and managers. The quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, while the data which were obtained from the face-to-face interviews were analysed by means of thematic analysis.

CSR och hållbart företagande är traditionellt sett flexibelt hållna begrepp som företag uppmuntras att arbeta med på eget initiativ. Med vägledning av internationella standarder uppmuntras företag minimera negativa konsekvenser som deras verksamheter kan generera. Mot bakgrund av ett ökat behov av transparens och enhetlighet mellan företag som är verksamma på EU:s inre marknad har hållbarhetsredovisningsdirektivet antagits. Direktivet, vilket har genomförts i svensk rätt genom införande av bland annat 6 kap 12 § årsredovisningslagen, föreskriver en skyldighet för företag av viss storlek att identifiera väsentliga risker i verksamheten och redovisa dessa i en hållbarhetsredovisning som del av företagets förvaltningsberättelse. Riskidentifieringen ska göras mot bakgrund av vad som är nödvändigt för förståelse av företagets verksamhet, och innefatta risker i affärsförbindelser när det är relevant. En av de aspekterna som företag ska identifiera och redovisa risken för är korruption. Hållbarhetsredovisningskravet gäller från och med redovisningen av verksamhetsåret 2017. Svenska staten är en stor bolagsägare i Sverige och ställer krav på de statligt ägda bolagen att agera föredömligt på området för hållbart företagande, bland annat genom krav på efterlevnad av en framtagen ägarpolicy. Inom ramen för en empirisk studie har 47 statligt ägda bolags hållbarhetsredovisningar för verksamhetsåret 2016 granskats. Syftet var att fastställa hur de statligt ägda bolagen arbetar med identifiering och redovisning av risker för korruption, mot bakgrund av att redovisningskravet hittills inte har varit rättsligt bindande. Mot bakgrund av det varierande resultatet som studien visar kan ifrågasättas om samtliga av de statligt ägda bolagen agerar med en sådan föredömlighet som föreskrivs i ägarpolicyn. Genom en analys av huruvida hållbarhetsredovisningsdirektivet och 6 kap. 12 § årsredovisningslagen kan förhindra den underlåtenhet att redovisa risker för korruption som idag torde vara möjlig, konstateras att direktivet i teorin uppfyller sitt ändamål. Efter att redovisningskravet har börjat gälla kan korruption presumeras utgöra en väsentlig fråga för företag, vilket ställer höga krav för utelämnande av identifiering av korruptionsrisker i redovisningen. Ur praktisk synpunkt kan däremot anföras att direktivets språkliga utformning erbjuder en sådan flexibilitet vad gäller bedömningen av riskernas väsentlighet, att överträdelser av direktivet torde bli svåra att tillskriva företag eller dess företrädare ansvar för. Som slutsats anförs att direktivets föreskrifter borde ha utformats med mindre flexibilitet, i syfte att uppnå den enhetlighet mellan företags redovisningar som eftersträvas.

Given the predicted increase in the number of family businesses owned and/or managed by siblings (Sibling Partnerships), as well as the lack of understanding and research attention given to such sibling teams, the purpose of this study was to contribute to the more effective functioning of such family businesses in South Africa by identifying the factors that impact on their success. With this purpose in mind, the primary objective was to identify, investigate and empirically test the possible influences of, and relationships between, various factors and the Perceived success of Sibling Partnerships. This study sets out to integrate prior findings and theories on team effectiveness and family relationships, to find support for these theories in the family business literature, and to incorporate these findings into a comprehensive model. The literature study revealed 5 main categories (context, composition, structure, processes, and people) of constructs influencing the Perceived success of sibling teams. Within these 5 main constructs, 13 underlying independent variables were identified and hypothesised to influence measures of effectiveness of sibling teams, namely the dependent variable Perceived success, and the 2 intermediate variables Financial performance and Family harmony. Of the 13 underlying independent variables, 6 were categorised as task-based and 7 as relational-based factors. In addition, hypotheses were formulated for possible relationships between the various task-based constructs (context, composition and structure) and the processes and people constructs. Each construct was clearly defined and then operationalised. Operationalisation was done by using reliable and valid items sourced from tested measuring instruments used in previous studies, as well as several self-generated items based on secondary sources. A structured questionnaire was made available to respondents identified by means of the convenience snowball sampling technique, and the data collected from 371 usable questionnaires was subjected to various statistical analyses. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted, and Cronbach-alpha coefficients were calculated to confirm the validity and reliability of the measuring instrument. The 6 task-based latent variables were confirmed by the exploratory factor analysis. However, all the other latent variables, as originally intended in the theoretical model, could not be confirmed. Instead, 3 dependent variables were identified, namely Financial performance, Growth performance and Satisfaction with work and family relationships, and 6 relational-based constructs, with some changes, did emerge. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was the main statistical procedure used to test the significance of the relationships hypothesised between the various independent and dependent variables. Because of sample size restrictions the conceptual model could not be subjected to SEM as a whole; consequently 10 submodels were identified and subjected to further analysis. The following independent variables were identified as influencing the dependent variables in this study: • Internal context • Complementary skills • Leadership • Shared dream • Fairness • Sibling relationship • Non-family members • No other family members (spouses and non-active siblings) In addition, the factors Complementary skills, Leadership, Past parent involvement, No present parent involvement, and No other family members, were identified as significantly influencing the relationship between the siblings involved in the Sibling Partnership. Furthermore, an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Multiple Linear Regression analysis and t-tests were undertaken to determine the influence of demographic variables on the dependent variables. How ownership is shared in a family business involving siblings, the shareholding between the siblings themselves, and the nature of leadership between the siblings, has been found to influence the iv dependent variables in the present study. In addition, a Sibling Partnership is likely to perform most effectively when it is composed of a relatively young sibling team that has a small age gap between the members, and business performance will improve as the siblings gain work experience together, and as the number of employees increase. This study has added to the empirical body of family business research by investigating a particularly limited segment of the literature, namely Sibling Partnerships in family businesses. By identifying and developing various models that outline the most significant factors that influence the success of such family business partnerships, this study offers recommendations and suggestions for managing family businesses involving siblings, in such a way as to enrich their family relationships and to improve the financial performance of their businesses.

This thesis investigates manufacturer-distributor power relationship in the Chinese Iron and Steel Industry. The main objectives of this study are to identify, describe and investigate the power relationships in Chinese Iron and Steel Industry; to understand the concept of power from the perspective of distributors and their relationship with State-Owned Enterprises and Private-Owned Enterprises in this industry; and to explore the possibility of developing an extended research power-relationship framework by investigating the power construct and potentially related and relevant factors in the Chinese market that may impact predicted outcomes such as positive conflict resolution attitude and levels of conflict. Two quantitative pilot studies were conducted, consisting of 14 surveys with semi-structured questions each, which were instrumental in the design of an extended power relationship model by incorporating the factors such as the level of trust, frequency of communication and level of guanxi that drive positive conflict resolution attitude into the traditional power model that had not been combined in a single framework before. Subsequently, the main study was carried out comprising 148 questionnaires completed by distributor firm managers. These represent the views of 74 respondents, who responded for both state-owned enterprises and private-owned enterprises in the Chinese Iron and Steel Industry The sample size is 74 respondents including 14 respondents that were also respondents for the pilot studies. This study generated four main findings. 1) a State-Owned Enterprises tend to use more non-coercive power than Private-Owned Enterprises, and have a stronger negative effect than Private-Owned Enterprises; 2) although Private-Owned Enterprises were rated higher than State-Owned Enterprises in the level of trust, and have a stronger positive effect when explaining the observed relationship between the level of trust and positive conflict resolution attitude, the difference is really minimal; 3) Private-Owned Enterprises were rated higher than State-Owned Enterprises in the frequency of communication, and have a stronger positive effect than State-Owned Enterprises in the explanation of the relationship between frequency of communication and positive conflict resolution attitude. 4) Private-Owned Enterprises were rated higher than State-Owned Enterprises in the level of guanxi, and have stronger positive effect than State-Owned Enterprises in the explanation of the relationship between level of guanxi and positive conflict resolution attitude. These findings contribute to fill gaps in the literature with regard to power relationships in distribution channels. This thesis extends the current boundary of knowledge through the formulation of an extended framework that integrates conflict resolution constructs into a typical/traditional power model. This extended framework comprises new constructs such as level of trust, frequency of communication and level of guanxi and hypothesises their impact on conflict resolution attitude and level of conflict in the Chinese distribution channel. New knowledge is created by investigating differences regarding the use of power by SOEs and POEs considered from the distributor perspective in the Chinese context. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed in detail.

D. Tech (Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are economic drivers and key in job creation in emerging economies. In the past, the difficulties faced by women have deprived them of opportunities to establish and run successful businesses. Previous research reveals that women’s involvement in businesses creates sustainable economic growth, thereby reducing poverty. Women-owned SMEs in South Africa receive minimal government support, and many women lack the resources required to run a business successfully. Ensuring growth and profitability in women-run enterprises can alleviate the extent to which women have been disadvantaged in South Africa. In the Fourth Industrial Revolution, women have a significant role in creating jobs, which can grow the South African economy. This study aimed to determine the influence of strategy implementation in women-owned SMEs in South Africa, specifically Gauteng Province. The study considered constructs such as strategy implementation, financial performance and SME survival in women-owned SMEs. Against this background, a deductive reasoning based quantitative approach was adopted using a cross-sectional survey design to assess the connection between the constructs under consideration. The final sample consisted of 347 women entrepreneurs and managers and employees of selected SMEs in various regions of Gauteng Province. The data collected were analysed using the Statistical Packages for the Social Scientists (SPSS) version 25.0 software. Statistical analyses techniques applied in the study included descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, person correlations and regression analyses. The results of the study showed that corporate and business strategies exert a significant influence on SME financial performance. However, operational strategy was statistically insignificant. Financial performance, in turn, influenced SME survival. Additionally, all three strategies, namely, corporate, business and operational, significantly influenced SME survival. Thus, the financial performance and ultimate survival of women-owned SMEs in South Africa are both dependent on strategy formulation and implementation. The research is practical in that its results may be used as a reference source for ideas in strategy formulation and implementation in stakeholder committees. The results may then be directed towards alleviating the challenges facing women-owned SMEs in South Africa and stimulate their chances of success. The study, therefore, has implications in generating employment, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of women-owned SMEs. Theoretically, the study contributes by closing the gap in literature within the area of the nexus between strategy implementation, financial performance and SME survival in the context of South Africa.

Intresset för samhällsfastigheter har ökat avsevärt på senare år. Långa hyreskontrakt med offentligt finansierade hyresgäster gör att segmentet ses som en trygg investering med stabila kassaflöden. Svenska samhällsfastigheter AB delägs av Ledstången och är ett av bolagen som investerar i samhällsfastigheter. När bolaget står inför nya fastighetsförvärv genomgår potentiella objekt en process för beslutsfattande. Processen inkluderar analys av marknadsdata och ett antal investeringsparametrar för att bedöma om det är värt att genomföra affären. Syftet med denna studie är att komma fram till i vilken grad givna faktorer som drift- och underhållskostnader, kontrakterad hyra, belåningsgrad, inflation, exit yield samt marknadsvärde påverkar en portföljs IRR och cash-on-cash samt vilka andra faktorer utöver dessa som är vägledande vid investeringsbeslut. Detta gjordes genom att analysera tre olika fastighetsportföljer och tre enskilda fastigheter till salu på marknaden i april 2021 med hjälp av en kalkylmodell i Microsoft Excel där data för de portföljer och samhällsfastigheter som ingår i materialet matades in. Fastighetsportföljerna värderades utifrån kassaflödesmetoden och nyckeltalen IRR och cash-on-cash presenterades för de potentiella förvärven. Utöver detta analyserades mäklarprospekt för de olika marknadsobjekten för att belysa de faktorer som excelmodellen inte tar hänsyn till. Resultatet av fallstudien visar vilken av fastigheterna och portföljerna som redovisade starkast respektive svagast nyckeltal. Vidare genomfördes en känslighetsanalys med olika antaganden på drift- och underhållskostnader, marknadsvärde, kontrakterad hyra, exit yield, belåningsgrad och inflation för att belysa osäkerheten i en ekonomisk kalkyl och den påverkan detta har på nyckeltalen. Resultatet av känslighetsanalysen visar att en liten förändring av exit yield medför en mycket stor skillnad i marknadsvärdet och att bashyran var den mest kritiska parametern i sin påverkan på nyckeltalet IRR av de parametrar som ingick i känslighetsanalysen. / The demand for public property in Sweden has increased significantly in recent years. It is considered a safe investment with long-term leases that generate a stable cash flow over time. Svenska samhällsfastigheter AB is co-owned by Ledstången and are one of the companies that invest in public properties. When the company is facing new acquisitions, potential objects undergo a certain process of investment analysis. This process includes analysis of market data as well as several investment parameters, to assess whether or not it is worth carrying out the transaction. This study aims to determine to what extent factors such as operating- and maintenance cost, contracted rent, loan-to-value ratio, inflation, exit yield and market value affect the IRR and cash-on-cash of a portfolio. Also to determine other factors that can be of guidance in investment decisions. This was done by analyzing three different real estate portfolios of interest to Ledstången by inputting relevant data for each portfolio in a Microsoft Excel calculation model as well as three other properties for sale on the market in April of 2021. The value of each portfolio and property was calculated based on the cash flow method, and the key figures IRR and cash-on-cash were presented for each of the new potential acquisitions. In addition to this, broker brochures were analyzed for the various objects to shed light on the factors that the model in excel could not take into account. The result of this case study showed which of the real estate portfolios and properties reported the strongest and weakest IRR, furthermore a sensitivity analysis was carried out with different assumptions on operating- and maintenance cost, market value, contracted rent,  loan-to-value ratio, and inflation to shed light on the uncertainty of an economic calculation and the impact this has on its key figures. The results of the sensitivity analysis showed that only a small change in exit yield entails a large difference in the market value and that the contracted base rent was the most critical parameter in its impact on the key figure of IRR out of all the parameters included in the sensitivity analysis.

Figures show the unemployment rate in South Africa is increasing. Entrepreneurship is a very good solution to decrease the unemployment rate and increase the economic growth of South Africa. Very few studies have been done on entrepreneurship, including women entrepreneurs, as men have always been the leaders in this regard. More than 50% of South Africa‟s population is female and deemed as a very important factor for the country's economic growth. Women entrepreneurs have been understudied; there are also other factors and relationships that should be investigated and understood for the government to be able to establish programmes and assistance for women entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses. The research for this study was conducted in the Gauteng Province as poverty levels are high, despite large industries in this province and the fact that it is the most Gross Domestic Province for South Africa. The objective of this study is to investigate women entrepreneurship in the Gauteng and to make practical recommendations to enhance women entrepreneurship in this province. A survey including 41 women-owned businesses was conducted. A detailed profile of the woman entrepreneur in Gauteng was compiled, including the structure of the business. Factors such as the level of organisational commitment, dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation, job satisfaction, life satisfaction, development needs as well as the perceived business success, have been investigated. The relationships between these factors have also been investigated in the empirical research. The most urgent needs of women entrepreneurs in Gauteng are marketing training, financial support, machinery, equipment and tools as well as infrastructure. It is recommended that these needs are addressed through a support initiative especially implemented for women entrepreneurs. These factors need to be understood by the government in order to establish and assist women entrepreneurs in South Africa. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015