Purpose: The purpose of this research is to explore how CSR reporting of supply chain management indicators and metrics in the textile and apparel industry relate to the Triple Top Line framework. Design/methodology/approach: This thesis is conducted by doing a content analysis of sustainable supply chain management performance metrics and indicators in a first step which is then matched within the conceptual framework of the Triple Top Line. Finally, a content analysis of branded marketers’ and retailers’ corporate social responsibility reports is conducted using the conceptual framework as a guideline. Findings: The results showed that certain segments of the conceptual framework were under represented in the terms of sustainable supply chain management performance indicators and metrics, and that the reporting of the metrics and indicators is still lacking as a whole within the textile and apparel industry. Research limitations/implications: The limitations of the thesis are that the analysis of the CSR reports was conducted through a manifest content analysis and could be improved by using a latent approach and whilst the CSR reports of branded manufacturers and retailers were analysed, the researcher could have included the analysis of fabric and fibre producers to have an even more complete vision of the industry. Originality/value: The value of this thesis is that it offers academics and practitioners a new conceptual framework to evaluate their CSR reporting and measuring of sustainable supply chain management indicators and performance metrics.

The thesis focuses on application of business intelligence in online retail. The work summarizes the benefits of BI usage in online retail and provides an overview of the areas, where BI and Analytics is commonly used. Further, the thesis includes theoretical research with primary focus on business performance evaluation metrics and describes BI market leaders. The performance metrics theoretical research is supported by a survey in a global online fashion retail company that author conducted and summarized. Moreover, a practical design and implementation of a specific real-life BI solution is proposed and presented. The thesis added value is mainly author s proposal of BI solution design and its implementation for a global online retail company, which was successfully deployed as a main BI reporting system of the company. The description includes data integration part, data modelling part and the presentation layer. Thesis includes also practical examples of the outputs based on the final solution. Besides, highly valuable is also author s theoretical research in the field.

This thesis aims to extend the MMSP methodology with performance testing intended for the Competence Center for Quality management on VŠE. Through general introduction to performance testing, definition of terms and metrics, detailed description of the preparation and implementation of performance testing and to it tightly connected testing known as operability. Processed functionality will be demonstrated on a selected tool intended for a performance testing and the functionality of the application will be veryfied at the Competence Centre. The methodology should bring order to the team and elevate it to a level that is requested by customers. The work is aimed both at professional audience in the field of testing, where focus is on explaining methodology for performance testing, and also at small testing teams in general, for which it describes how to approach small team testing. Access to methodology could also help centers in other areas to be able to add more added value to their services. My knowledge comes from QA teams of Sun Microsystems, VŠE Competency center on project for IBM and CZNIC registrar of domain names .CZ, which takes care of Czech domain operation.

<p>While the general public may be familiar with commercial airports, there are thousands of small General Aviation (GA) airports serving communities across the United States. Many of these airports are under pressure to survive and to bring in more revenue without impinging on the community and environment. Many organizations and governmental agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), now recognize the value of sustainable development and importance of operation to airport sustainability. Achieving operational sustainability is a means that may help airports on sustainable development and has positive impacts on airports’ economic viability, natural resource conservation, and social responsibility. However, airport operational sustainability is rarely defined in a consistent, measurable manner (Johnson & Gu, 2017).</p><p><br></p><p>This study explored the understanding of airport operational sustainability among five GA Regional and Local airports. Based on the findings, a new definition of airport operational sustainability for U.S Regional and Local GA airports was proposed. A set of performance metrics for airport operational sustainability was developed. The outcomes of the study may help airport shareholders contribute to airport sustainability planning through a better understanding of sustainability principles<a>. A set of performance metrics for airport operational sustainability </a>may be used to quantify the sustainability achievements of airports and help airports measure their performance.</p><p></p>

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Parasitic infections are ubiquitous in nature, and host-parasite dynamics can have powerful effects on wildlife populations. Many species have evolved behavioral responses to infection that can help mitigate damage from parasites. Anorexia is a common response to infection observed throughout the animal kingdom. Reducing nutrient intake can help shift host resources from digestion to immunity, as well as limit resources available to parasites. Reduced feeding can weaken the host, but in some host-parasite interactions, this cost is less than that of maintaining an infection. Here, I describe an experiment aimed to explore the effects of the parasitic nematode Aplectana hamatospicula on the Cuban treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) across life stages. Tadpoles were exposed to A. hamatospicula larvae or a sham exposure and growth and behavior were quantified. After metamorphosis, the jumping performance of these frogs was assessed. I revealed that A. hamatospicula could infect and complete its lifecycle in tadpoles. This infection was unique in that it persisted through metamorphosis with the worm continuing to reproduce in the intestinal tract of the terrestrial frogs. These infections reduced the relative mass gain of tadpoles. However, post-metamorphic frogs were able to compensate for this lower growth when provided an ad libitum diet, and infection did not directly or indirectly impact jumping performance, perhaps because of this compensation. Tadpoles that prevented or cleared the infection had a higher rate of anorexia, suggesting that anorexia might be a successful disease-mitigation response to A. hamatospicula.

This study evaluates the performance of Growth and Value Stock Investment Strategies and investigates the relative performance of these two types of stocks in Denmark and Finland. The research compares the historical returns and consequences of investing in value and growth stocks and examines the factors that drive their performance. The research questions focus on whether there is a significant difference in performance between value stocks portfolios and growth stocks portfolios. The study uses a deductive approach and a quantitative research design to analyze numerical data collected mainly from Thomson Reuters Eikon Datastream. Microsoft Excel and SPSS Statistics were the main tools used to form samples to process and analyze the data. The samples consist of listed stocks on the Danish and Finnish stock markets, and the portfolios are divided based on their Price-to-Book ratios and Price-To-Earnings ratios. The evaluated years are divided into four sub-periods to reflect different economic conditions. The findings suggest that there were significant differences in the performance of value and growth portfolios in the Finnish market during specific sub-periods, while in Denmark, there were no significant differences in returns between portfolios consisting of value stocks and portfolios consisting of growth stocks in all sub-periods, except for sub-period 3. The performance of the portfolios may be affected by factors such as interest rates, financial distress, and economic conditions in various sectors of the economy. The study's results can provide investors with insights into the relative performance of growth and value stocks and help them make informed decisions about stock allocation when forming portfolios, enhancing their investment strategies.

Thesis advisor: Monica O'Reilly-Jacob / Background: Emergency department crowding (EDC) is a major issue affecting hospitals in the United States and has devastating consequences, including an increased risk of patient mortality. Solutions to address EDC are traditionally focused on adding resources, including increased nurse staffing ratios. However, these solutions largely ignore the value of the experience and expertise that each nurse possesses and how those attributes can impact patient outcomes. This dissertation uses Benner’s Novice to Expert theory of professional development to describe how individual emergency nurse expertise influences patient length of stay in the emergency department and how it can be part of the strategy in addressing EDC.Purpose: The purpose of this program of research was to identify, articulate, and demonstrate a new approach to emergency nurse performance evaluation that integrates patient outcome data and emergency nurse characteristics. Methods: First, in a scoping review, we explored the different approaches to measuring nurse performance using patient outcome data and identified common themes. Second, a concept analysis introduced Emergency Nurse Efficiency as a novel framework to understand how emergency nurses can be evaluated using patient outcome data. Finally, a retrospective correlational study established the association between nurse expertise and emergency patient length of stay. Results: In Chapter Two of this dissertation, the researchers conducted a scoping review of nurse performance metrics and identified twelve articles for inclusion. We identified three themes: the emerging nature of these metrics in the literature, variability in their applications, and performance implications. We further described an opportunity for future researchers to work with nurse leaders and staff nurses to optimize these metrics. In Chapter Three, we performed a concept analysis to introduce a novel metric, called Emergency Nurse Efficiency, that is a measurable attribute that changes as experience is gained and incorporates the positive impact of an individual nurse during a given time while subtracting the negative. Using this measurement to evaluate ED nurse performance could guide staff development, education, and performance improvement initiatives. In Chapter Four, we performed a retrospective correlational analysis and administered an online survey to describe the relationship between individual emergency nurses, and their respective level of expertise, and their patients’ ED LOS. We found that, when accounting for patient-level variables and the influence of the ED physicians, emergency nurses are a statistically significant predictor of their patients’ ED LOS. A higher level of clinical expertise among emergency likely produces a lower ED LOS for their patients, and nurse leaders should seek to better understand these metrics for professional development and quality improvement activities. Conclusions: This dissertation made substantial knowledge contributions to the literature regarding the evaluation of individual emergency nurses and the influence that they have on patient outcomes. It established, first, that the measurement of individual nurse performance is varied and inconsistent; second, that considering emergency nursing as a team activity similar to professional sports results in a conceptual framework that can evaluate individual performance within a group context; and, third, that there is a relationship between the individual emergency nurse and their patients’ ED LOS, and that relationship can be further understood within Benner’s Novice to Expert theoretical model. We recommend that nurse leaders use these data as part of their strategy to decrease EDC. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2023. / Submitted to: Boston College. Connell School of Nursing. / Discipline: Nursing.

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