Syfte: Sambandet mellan CSR och CFP har undersökts otaliga gånger utan att forskarna kommer överens om huruvida det finns ett samband eller inte. Därmed finns också olika åsikter om vilket motiv som driver företag att investera i CSR. Tidigare forskning har fokuserat på två huvudmotiv: vinstmaximerings- samt filantropiska motiv. Vi har kunnat utröna ett möjligt tredje motiv till CSR-investeringar, nämligen att företagets information om framtida CFP motiverar investeringar i CSR. Syftet med vår studie är därmed att undersöka om framtida förväntad CFP förklarar nuvarande CSR-investeringar i företag.   Metod: Vår studie utgår från en positivistisk forskningsfilosofi med hypotetisk-deduktiv ansats. Forskningsstrategin är kvantitativ med en longitudinell forskningsdesign. Data från 890 europeiska bolag har insamlats från Thomson Reuters Datastream för åren 2008-2016. Vidare har dessa data analyserats i statistikprogrammet SPSS.   Resultat & slutsats: Resultatet visar att framtida förväntad CFP förklarar företagets nuvarande CSR-investeringar. Detta genom att den information företaget innehar om sin framtida CFP påverkar dess engagemang i CSR-aktiviteter, vilket därmed utgör det huvudsakliga motivet till företagets CSR-investeringsbeslut. Resultatet visar också att företag inte investerar i CSR av filantropiska skäl, medan en undergrupp av företag väljer att investera i CSR med vinstmaximering som motiv.   Examensarbetets bidrag: Studien bidrar till motivforskningen om CSR-investeringsbeslut genom att bevis erhållits för att ett tredje motiv finns, som hittills är outforskat. Olika intressenter har nytta av kunskapen om detta motiv eftersom studien visar att CSR-investeringar leder till att information om företagets framtida information avslöjas.   Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Fortsatta studier inom ämnet skulle förslagsvis kunna rikta in sig på mindre företag eller enskilda länder, då denna studie fokuserat på stora europeiska bolag. För att få en mer detaljerad inblick i hur ett företag tänker kring CSR-investeringar föreslår vi en fallstudie inom ämnet, med kvalitativ inriktning. / Aim: The relationship between CSR and CFP has been investigated many times without any conclusion if there is any relationship or not. Because of the lack of conclusion there are different opinions about what motive companies have when they invest in CSR. The research that has been done in the field have focused on two motives: profit maximization- and the philanthropical motive. We have identified a possible third motive to CSR-investments, namely that company’s information about future CFP motivates current investments in CSR. The aim of our study is to investigate if future expected CFP explains current CSR-investments among companies.   Method: Our study is based on a positivistic research philosophy with a hypothesis-deductive approach. The study has a quantitative strategy with a longitudinal design. We have collected data from 890 European companies during the period of 2008-2016 from Thomson Reuters Datastream. We have analyzed the data in the statistical software SPSS.   Result & Conclusions: The result of the study indicates that the future CFP explains current CSR-investments. This happens because the company’s private information regarding future CFP influences the commitment to CSR-activities, which make the information-motive the main motive to CSR-investments. The result also shows that companies do not invest in CSR for philanthropic reasons, while a subgroup of companies chooses to invest in CSR with profit maximization as a motive.   Contribution of the thesis: The study provides a contribution to the research about how different motives drive companies’ decision-making process about CSR-investments through the third identified motive, which is an unexplored field. Different stakeholders can appreciate the knowledge of this motive because of the private information the companies reveal with the CSR-investments that they do.   Suggestions for future research: We have done our study on large public European companies. Future studies in the field should aim non-public companies or specific countries. We suggest a qualitative study to get a more detailed picture about how companies reveal private information in this field.

Vulnerable older adults residing in nursing homes continue to experience poor care outcomes due to nurse staffing levels that are below the levels required for maintaining their well-being. Studies have shown that patient care outcomes in nursing homes are related to nurse staffing standards/levels, which are affected by profit maximization on adherence to registered nurses and licensed nurse staffing standards. The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine if there was a relationship between adherence to staffing standards and care outcomes in for-profit (FP) and not-for-profit religious-based (NFPRB) nursing homes using the profit maximization theory. Research questions focused on the relationships that profit maximization and nurse staffing standards had on the quality of care outcomes measures and the differences between the nursing homes on these variables. Secondary data were collected from public database and analyzed using the descriptive and inferential statistics, nonparametric tests, and binary logistic regression. Findings showed that profit measures were not related to staffing standards and care outcome measures in the NFPRB. There was a significant relationship between FP nursing homes and standards to care outcomes in FP but not in the NFPRB nursing homes. FP nursing homes did worse than NFPRB on care outcomes. Further research, using qualitative and mixed methodologies, is needed to study the effects of profit measures on nursing home care outcomes. The results of this study can effect positive social change by informing policy makers and healthcare professionals/leaders, and, by reducing adverse events, untimely death, and positively affecting the quality of care and life of the frail and vulnerable older adults residing in nursing homes.

Companies are faced with challenges constraining the achievement of set budgets, goals, profit and cost of product, to name a few, on a daily basis. These challenges influence value creation and sustainable value creation. Value-based management is an integrated management tool which may assist in achieving sustainable value creation within a company. Achieving sustainable value creation will result in benefits for both the shareholders and the various stakeholders. In 2008 and 2009 Eskom, South Africa’s sole electricity provider announced a major shortage of electricity and consequently major price increases. Since electricity consumption is a crucial part of the production process, this announcement had a devastating effect on mining companies. The primary objective of the current study is to investigate whether a local mining company is focusing on applicable endeavours to overcome the electricity constraint and price hikes in order to sustain value creation. This was done by studying the company’s financial & management reports, public announcements and media coverage, in conjunction with a quantitative study, collecting primary data by using standardised questionnaires distributed among the mining company’s employees. The results from this study indicate that the selected company is focusing on relevant projects to overcome the electricity constraints. Further, the conclusion made from the results of the questionnaires shows that the higher staff levels are more informed and aware of value-based management. It also points out that the lower levels and employees from the production and mining departments are less informed and aware of value-based management. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Background: In today's society, there is more pressure to be sustainable and not least in the financial world. Several agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, have been created to steer countries towards more sustainability. When it comes to the economy, several SRI strategies have been developed to serve the same purpose. However, the problem that emerges is that investors who invest sustainably and use these strategies can lose returns and thus depart from their main goal of maximizing profits.   Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine how SRI strategies are used by investors when constructing their portfolios in terms of profit maximization. The paper will thus conclude if the underlying motivation behind the choice of strategy is affected by maximizing profit.   Method and implementation: By conducting a qualitative study and interviewing several fund managers at the largest banks and fund companies in Sweden, the authors aim to answer the research question. The answers provided by the respondents are presented and analyzed in the empirical section and linked to the study's theory.   Conclusion: In this study, there is clearly shown that by investing, according to SRI, a professional investor is still able to profit maximize. The authors, therefore, see that the new way of being rational as an investor is to include SRI strategies. The relationship with being both sustainable and profit-maximizing can be seen as a significant motivating factor. The same can be said about reduced ESG risk and creating legitimacy towards customers. Furthermore, a combination of strategies can be seen as a way to create an optimal portfolio by the investors. This further proves that sustainable investing is the most rational way of investing and a way to achieve an investors main goal to profit maximize.

[pt] Como conseqüência da desregulamentação da indústria aérea americana nos anos 70, Yield Management YM foi criado como uma ferramenta gerencial para maximizar os lucros e manter as vantagens competitivas de empresas do setor. Com o tempo, essa ferramenta passou a ser utilizada por diversas empresas prestadoras de serviço, quando existe uma demanda variável para uma capacidade fixa e elevado custo de ociosidade, ajudando os gerentes a maximizar as receitas das suas operações. Basicamente, YM é o processo de alocação do tipo certo de capacidade, para cada tipo de cliente, ao preço certo, para que se maximizem os lucros. Pode-se ainda dizer que YM é uma forma sistemática de realizar um tipo de preço discriminatório em função de dados de demanda, de ocupação e dos custos marginais de utilização do recurso (avião, hotel, ou outro sistema prestador de serviço). Esta dissertação tem como objetivo verificar como os maiores hotéis turísticos do Rio de Janeiro se utilizam desta ferramenta em suas operações de reservas e vendas. Para atingir tal objetivo, selecionou-se uma amostra de onze hotéis na orla marítima. Entrevistas foram realizadas com os respectivos gerentes responsáveis pelo processo de reservas e/ou vendas, que responderam a um sobre a atual aplicação dos elementos de YM dentro da organização. Os resultados indicaram que o uso de YM é ainda muito pouco difundido entre esses hotéis, sendo reconhecido e de aplicação incipiente apenas em hotéis de maior porte pertencentes a cadeias, sobretudo internacionais. Alguns impedimentos indicados pelos respondentes e inferidos de suas respostas são comentados. / [en] As a consequence of the deregulation of the American airline industry in the 70 s, Yield Management was created as a managerial tool in order to maximize the profits and to keep the competitive advantages of companies of the sector. With time, this tool was adopted by other service companies, where a flexible demand for a fixed capacity and high under utilization costs exist, helping the managers to maximize their operations revenues. Yield Management (YM), or Revenue Management, is the allocation process of the right type of capacity to each type of customer at the proper price to maximize the sales revenues of services, or of highly perishable goods. It can still be said that YM is a systematic form to carry out a type of discriminatory price to meet demand taking into account occupation data and the marginal cost of resource utilization (airplane, hotel, or another service rendering system). The study presented in this thesis aimed at verifying how the main tourist hotels of Rio de Janeiro are taking advantages of this tool within their reservation and sales processes. To accomplish this objective, a sample of eleven hotels was selected amongst the fifteen more important hotels of the main touristic area of Rio de Janeiro City. Interviews were carried out with the managers responsible for the reservation and, or sales, departament, who answered a questionnaire about the current application of YM elements within the organization. The results have indicated that YM is still very little spread out among these hotels, being recognized and of incipient application, only in large hotel chains, mainly, the international ones. Some obstacles pointed out by the respondents and inferred from their responses are commented.

Business ethics is a fragmented and well covered scientific field. This Master thesis study concerns two type of organizations, namely family businesses (FB’s) and venture capital firms (VCF’s), in relation to the ethical decision-making process, which is a relatively undiscovered field. The study is conducted in the way it sheds a light on the influences on a manager when taking decisions concerning ethical considerations. Important scholars such as Colby and Kohlberg (1987) and Rest et al. (1999) framed the field of moral development of individuals, and what makes managers unaware of their unethical decisions (Bazerman, 2008). However, a manager’s possibility to take decisions is also influenced by organizational factors and actors. The type of management and ownership structure, and the expectations these actors have with regard to profits, as well as situational factors such as business strategy, maturity of the company, human and financial resources and market position are shaping the environment and possibility for managers to pursue ethical behavior because they affect the decision-making process.The purpose of this study is to understand how managers in FB’s and VCF’s manage ethical considerations. The creating of the conceptual framework was used as a foundation to visualize how ethical behavior is constructed, while the focus laid on the influences and possibility to take decisions including ethical considerations and content. While performing this research, we have conducted eight semi-structured interviews with managers in three VCF’s and two FB’s in Sweden. The respondent companies and interviewees remain anonymous. We did that to increase the chance of honest and unbiased answers since we saw a risk to receive adjusted and image improving responses.The empirical findings show that the VCF’s do not pay attention to ethical considerations in the same extent as FB’s do. Discovered reasons were lack of time and know-how, financial and human resources, business maturity and the fact that they were to generate a high ROI to the venture capitalist. Such a relationship makes the managers focus on profit maximization and short term objectives rather than ethical considerations. The two FB’s did have an ethical code of conduct with the employees and was constructed in order to fulfill acceptance, integration and efficiency with this management tool. The ethical codes of conduct were created with the goal to steer behavior and ensure ethical commitment in certain areas of interest. The major finding is that situational factors either suffocate or give room for ethical considerations in companies when taking decisions.In particular, this research contributes to the field of business ethics and VCF’s in general, but also with regard to FB’s. The results of this thesis are constructed in the decision-making model which is different than the ethical decision-making model we constructed based on the theoretical research. However, reality did not allow us to recognize the fragmented patterns we interpreted from the theory. We therefore created a new top-down model which takes the need for a decision in companies into account, the actors and factors in the organization, the situational factors that influence the happenings in the organization and the outcome of the decision, which possibly contains ethical considerations and content. With the improved model we visualize the decision-making process while taking influences towards ethical decision-making into consideration and visualize organizational reality as we discovered it.Key words: business ethics, ethical considerations, ethical code of conduct, moral awareness, ethical decision-making, ethical behavior, family business, venture capital firm, profit maximization, shareholder preferences.

En période de crise financière, les entreprises ont besoin de trésorerie pour réagir efficacement aux aléas et assurer leur solvabilité. Cette thèse se situe à l’interface entre l’opérationnel et la finance pour développer des modèles de planification tactique gérant simultanément les flux physiques et financiers dans la supply chain. Le coût de financement des opérations basé sur le besoin en fond de roulement (BFR) est intégré comme un nouvel aspect financier jamais considéré dans la littérature de lot-sizing. Nous débutons par une extension du modèle EOQ considérant les coûts de financement du BFR. L’objectif est la maximisation du profit. Une quantité de production optimale est obtenue analytiquement ainsi que l’analyse de la sensibilité du modèle. De plus, les comparaisons avec le modèle EOQ et un modèle qui considère le coût du capital sont étudiées. Ensuite, un modèle basé sur un lot-sizing dynamique est établi. La propriété ZIO est démontrée et permet l’utilisation d’un algorithme en temps polynomial. Enfin un scénario multi-niveau à capacité infini est étudié avec une approche séquentielle puis centralisée. La propriété ZIO est prouvée dans ces deux cas. Des algorithmes de programmation dynamique sont utilisés pour obtenir une solution optimale. Cette thèse peut être considérée comme un premier, mais significatif, travail combinant la planification de production et la gestion du besoin en fond de roulement dans des modèles de planification tactique. Nous montrons que les aspects financiers ont un impact significatif sur les plans de production. Les cas étudiés dans cette thèse peuvent être considérés comme des sous-problèmes dans l’étude de scénario plus réalistes. / In financial crisis, companies always need free cash flow to efficiently react to any uncertainties to ensure solvency. Thus, this thesis serves as an interface between operations and finance to develop tactical production planning models for joint management of physical and financial flows in the supply chain. In these models, the financing cost of operation-based working capital requirement (WCR) is integrated as a new financial aspect never before considered in the lot-sizing literature. We first focus on extending the classic EOQ model by considering the financing cost of WCR with a profit maximization objective. The optimal analytic production quantity formula is derived as well as sensitivity analysis of this model. Moreover, a comparison with the EOQ model and with the formula which considers the cost of capital are discussed. Secondly, a dynamic lot-sizing-based, discounted cash flow model is established based on Uncapacitated lot-sizing model. The zero-inventory ordering property is proven valid for this case and a polynomial-time algorithm can thus be established. Thirdly, multi-level and infinite capacity scenario is investigated with both sequential and centralized approaches. The ZIO property is demonstrated valid in both cases. Dynamic-programming based algorithms are constructed in order to obtain an optimal solution. This thesis should be considered as a first, but significant setup of combining production planning and working capital management. It is shown the significant financial consequences of lot-sizing decision on production planning. The cases investigated in this thesis may be tackled as subproblems in the study of more realistic scenarios.

The importance of highlighting environmental issues is increasing in the society, where profit maximizing organizations are being blamed for the social and environmental externalities. As profit maximizing organizations only responsibility is to increase profits, there is a need to find a way to combine CSR engagement with profit maximization. The traditional view is however, that CSR engagements are considered a burden for companies, thus managers need to have good arguments to engage in CSR. This thesis aims to explore how Swedish commercial real estate companies engage in and report on CSR activities that exceed the minimum rules and regulations, their underlying driving forces to engage in CSR as well as how they take sustainability into account in their business decisions. This is a qualitative study conducted by doing 23 semi-structured interviews with commercial real estate companies. The discussion with the respondents were thematized through thematic analysis. There is inconsistency in previous research which enhances the importance of further studies within the area. The main findings in this study is that companies report on sustainability regardless if they are obligated by law or not, and seem to be driven by the same market forces irrespective of company characteristics, such as profit maximization and powerful stakeholders. First and foremost, it is about signaling to stakeholders that they are legitimate. In accordance with institutional theory the companies are influencing and are being influenced by each other. CSR engagement is stated by the participating companies to create tangible as well as intangible financial benefits. In the analysis the results are put in comparison and in context to previous research as well as established economic and political theories. Practical implications for real estate companies, together with recommendations for the industry is discussed. The authors enhance the importance of a standardized framework for reporting, another point brought up for discussion is that less important stakeholders can over time turn in to more important and that companies need to be aware of this transition. Lastly, a question is raised whether it perhaps would be more beneficial for sustainable development if companies increased their cooperation instead of working with the same things at the same time. In conclusion, a unanimous picture that crystalizes itself is that CSR engagement in profit maximizing organizations is no longer “nice-to-have” but rather a “must-have”. / Behovet av att belysa miljöfrågor ökar i samhället, samtidigt får vinstmaximerande företag skulden för sociala och miljömässiga externaliteter. Eftersom vinstmaximerande bolags enda skyldighet är att öka vinsterna, finns det ett behov av att kombinera hållbarhetsengagemang med vinstmaximering. Den traditionella synen är att hållbarhetsengagemang anses vara en börda för bolag. Därför behöver bolagsledningar ha goda argument för att engagera sig i hållbarhet. Denna uppsats syftar till att undersöka hur svenska kommersiella fastighetsbolag engagerar sig i, och rapporterar om sina hållbarhetsaktiviteter som överskrider minimikraven i svensk lagstiftning. Vidare syftar uppsatsen till att söka förståelse kring bolagens drivkrafter och huruvida hållbarhet beaktas i affärsbeslut. Detta är en kvalitativ undersökning där semistrukturerade intervjuer med representanter från 23 olika kommersiella fastighetsbolag genomförts. Diskussionerna har sedan tematiserats med hjälp av tematisk analys.  Det finns en bristande överensstämmelse inom tidigare forskning vilket belyser behovet av ytterligare studier inom ämnet. De huvudsakliga resultaten i denna studie är att företag rapporterar kring hållbarhet oavsett om de är tvungna att göra det eller ej, vilket tyder på att de drivs av marknadskrafter som vinstmaximering och starka intressentgrupper snarare än lagstiftningen. Först och främst handlar det om ett signalvärde till starka intressentgrupper att bolagen är legitima och trovärdiga. Företagen tycks också inspirera och bli inspirerade av varandra, vilket är i enlighet med institutionell teori. Enligt de deltagande företagen leder hållbarhetsengagemang till såväl immateriella som materiella finansiella fördelar.  I analysen sätts resultaten i sammanhang med tidigare forskning och etablerad ekonomisk och politisk teori. Praktiska konsekvenser för fastighetsbolag, tillsammans med ett antal rekommendationer för industrin diskuteras. Författarna till uppsatsen lyfter fram behovet av ett standardiserat ramverk för rapportering. Vidare diskuteras det faktum att intressentgrupper som idag anses vara mindre viktiga över tid kan övergå till att bli allt viktigare. Slutligen, diskuteras huruvida det hade varit mer fördelaktigt för den hållbara utvecklingen ur ett långsiktigt perspektiv om företag intensifierade samarbetet över bolagsgränserna, istället för att arbeta med samma frågor på var sitt håll. Den bild som tydligt kristalliserar sig är att hållbarhet i vinstmaximerande bolag inte längre anses vara “nice-to-have”, utan att det numera är ett “must-have”.

[ES] Esta tesis se ha desarrollado dentro del marco de la línea de investigación de Economía y Regulación de las Telecomunicaciones. En el programa de Doctorado de Telecomunicaciones por la Universitat Politècnica de València. Como parte del proceso de investigación se participó en los siguientes proyectos de investigación: Plataforma de servicios para ciudades inteligentes con redes M2M densas (TIN2013-47272-C2-1-R), Entrepreneurship in Heterogeneous Wireless Networks (COHWAN, TIN2010-21378 C02-02) y ATLAS-Dynamic network slicing in 5G Radio Access. Así como, se realizó una estancia doctoral en el IMT Atlantique en Rennes- Francia. Como resultado de estas actividades se publicaron varios artículos científicos que permiten sustentar los modelos de negocio para Operadores Móviles Virtuales (Mobile Virtual Network Operators-MVNOs) presentados en este documento. En este estudio, se plantean modelos de negocio que se sustentan en el desarrollo de las características técnicas de Redes de Cuarta Generación (Fourth-Generation Networks-4G) y Redes de Quinta Generación (Fifth-Generation Networks-5G), que facilitan la compartición de infraestructura de los Operadores Móviles de Red (Mobile Network Operators-MNOs). Al respecto, en este documento analiza el estado del arte que permite sustentar la viabilidad técnica de los modelos basados en la compartición de infraestructura, que ha permitido disminuir las barreras de entrada al mercado y el desarrollo de nuevos modelos de negocio para los MVNOs. Sin embargo, los nuevos modelos que permite la compartición de infraestructura deben ser analizados desde el aspecto económico para determinar la viabilidad de los mismos. Específicamente, en el primer modelo se analiza la viabilidad económica de un MVNO que brinda el servicio a su base de usuarios y divide su tráfico de red a dos MNOs, los que alquilan su capacidad de red al MVNO. En el análisis del modelo se consideran tanto las características del sistema como las económicas. En cuanto a las características del sistema, un MVNO proporciona servicio a los usuarios finales utilizando el soporte de infraestructura de dos MNOs. El servicio proporcionado por el MVNO, se modelada mediante una cola M/M/1, donde cada usuario genera paquetes de forma independiente siguiendo un proceso de Poisson. Los tiempos de servicios de los paquetes, se distribuyen exponencialmente. En el sistema propuesto la métrica de calidad más relevante, es el tiempo medio de servicio. El acuerdo entre el MVNO y los MNOs, es tal que, el MVNO dividirá el tráfico de la red entre los dos MNOs y pagará a cada MNO por el tráfico servido a través de su infraestructura. En cuanto a las características económicas, los incentivos se modelan a través de las utilidades de los usuarios y los beneficios de los operadores. En el segundo modelo, se analiza la viabilidad económica de dos escenarios para un modelo de negocio en el que, un MNO alquila su infraestructura de red al MVNO y cada operador sirve a su propia base de usuarios. El primer escenario denominado monopólico, el MNO presta servicio a las dos bases de usuarios (MNO y MVNO). En el segundo escenario denominado estratégico, el MNO presta servicio a su base de usuarios, así como, alquila su infraestructura al MVNO para que preste servicio a su base de usuarios. Para los dos escenarios, la red se ha modelado por una cola con prioridad, utilizando una disciplina de servicio Compartición Discrimitatoria del Servidor (Discriminatory Processor Sharing-DPS). En el análisis de compartición de infraestructura, se considera un pago al MNO por cada usuario que accede al servicio de MVNO. Finalmente, para determinar la viabilidad económica de los diferentes escenarios propuestos para los modelos de negocio, se utilizan conceptos de microeconomía, teoría de juegos y teoría de colas, la cuales han permitido conocer las decisiones en equilibrio que toman los operadores, así como las decisiones en equilibrio de los usuarios; de esta manera se ha obtenido el efecto de estas decisiones sobre los beneficios de todos los agentes del modelo y se han identificado las condiciones bajo las cuales estos nuevos modelos de negocio son viables en entornos de redes 4G y 5G. Como resultado del análisis de los modelos de negocio para los diferentes escenarios propuestos, se observa que la asociación entre MNOs y MVNOs a través de la compartición de infraestructura es viable económicamente para los modelos propuestos. En relación a los usuarios, su comportamiento es sustancial para determinar la viabilidad económica de los diferentes modelos de negocio propuestos, por lo tanto, resulta imprescindible explorar diferentes funciones de utilidad que expresen el comportamiento de los usuarios en estudios futuros. En cuanto a los operadores, en el primer modelo de negocio se demuestra que, la provisión de capacidad de red es un mecanismo válido para optimizar los beneficios de los operadores. Así como, en el segundo modelo de negocio, se demuestra que, la compartición de infraestructura entre un MNO y un MVNO es deseable desde el punto de vista de los usuarios para el modelo de negocio estratégico, ya que permite un mayor número de usuarios. Mientras que, desde el punto de vista económico el modelo de negocio monopólico es más deseable debido a que ofrece un incentivo mayor a los operadores. En resumen, en esta tesis se demuestra la viabilidad económica de modelos de negocio de compartición de infraestructura entre MNOs y MVNOs, soportados técnicamente por las características tecnológicas de las redes móviles de ultima generación. / [CA] Aquesta tesi s'ha desenvolupat dins del marc de la línia d'investigació d'Economia i Regulació de les Telecomunicacions. En el programa de Doctorat de Telecomunicacions per la Universitat Politècnica de València. Com a part del procés d'investigació es va participar en els següents projectes d'investigació: Plataforma de servicios para ciudades inteligentes con redes M2M densas (TIN2013-47272-C2-1-R), Entrepreneurship in Heterogeneous Wireless Networks (COHWAN, TIN2010-21378-C02-02) i ATLAS -Dynamic network slicing in 5G Radio Access. També es va realitzar una estada doctoral en l'IMT Atlantique en Rennes-França. Com a resultat d'aquaquests activitats es van publicar diversos articles científics que permeten sustentar els models de negoci per a MVNOs presentats en el present document. En aquest estudi, es plantegen models de negoci que se sustenten en el desenrotllament de les característiques tècniques de 4G i 5G, que faciliten la compartició d'infraestructura dels MNOs. També s'analitza l'estat de l'art que permet sustentar la viabilitat tècnica dels models basats en la compartició d'infraestructura, que ha permès disminuir les barreres d'entrada al mercat i el desenvolupament de nous models de negoci per als MVNOs. No obstant això, els nous models que permeten la compartició d'infraestructura han de ser analitzats des-de l'aspecte econòmic per a determinar la viabilitat dels mateixos. Específicament, en el primer model s'analitza la viabilitat econòmica d'un MVNO que brinda el servei a la seua base d'usuaris i divideix el seu tràfic de xarxa a dos MNOs, els que lloguen la seua capacitat de xarxa al MVNO. En l'anàlisi del model es considerentant les característiques del sistema com les econòmiques. Respecte a les característiques del sistema, un MVNO proporciona servei als usuaris finals utilitzant el suport d'infraestructura de dos MNOs. El servei proporcionat pel MVNO, es modelada per mitjà d'una cua M/M/1, on cada usuari genera paquets de forma independent seguint un procés de Poisson. Els temps de servei dels paquets es distribueixen exponencialment. En el sistema proposat, la mètrica de qualitat més rellevant és el temps mitjà de servei, que comprén tant el temps d'espera com el temps mitjà de servei. L'acord entre el MVNO i els MNOs, és tal que el MVNO dividirà el tràfic de la xarxa entre els dos MNOs i pagarà a cada MNO pel tràfic servit a través de la seua infraestructura. Respecte a les característiques econòmiques, els incentius es modelen mitjançant les utilitats dels usuaris i els beneficis dels operadors. En el segon model, s'analitza la viabilitat econòmica de dos escenaris per a un model de negoci en què un MNO lloga la seua infraestructura de xarxa al MVNO i cada operador serveix a la seua pròpia base d'usuaris. El primer escenari denominat monopòlic, el MNO dona servei a les dos bases d'usuaris (MNO i MVNO). En el segon escenari denominat estratègic, el MNO dona servei a la seua base d'usuaris, a més a més, lloga la seua infraestructura al MVNO per a que aquest puga prestar servei a la seua base d'usuaris. Per als dos escenaris, la xarxa s'ha modelat per una cua amb prioritat, utilitzant una disciplina de servei DPS. En l'anàlisi de compartició d'infraestructura, es considera un pagament al MNO per cada usuari que accedeix al servei de MVNO. Finalmente, para determinar la viabilidad económica de los diferentes escenarios propuestos para los modelos de negocio, se utilizan conceptos de microeconomía, teoría de juegos y teoría de colas, la cuales han permitido conocer las decisiones en equilibrio que toman los operadores, así como las decisiones en equilibrio de los usuarios; de esta manera se ha obtenido el efecto de estas decisiones sobre los beneficios de todos los agentes del modelo y se han identificado las condiciones bajo las cuales estos nuevos modelos de negocio son viables en entornos de redes 4G y 5G. Como resultado del análisis de los modelos de negocio para los diferentes escenarios propuestos, se observa que la asociación entre MNOs y MVNOs a través de la compartición de infraestructura es viable económicamente para los modelos propuestos. En relación a los usuarios, su comportamiento es sustancial para determinar la viabilidad económica de los diferentes modelos de negocio propuestos, por lo tanto, resulta imprescindible explorar diferentes funciones de utilidad que expresen el comportamiento de los usuarios en estudios futuros. En cuanto a los operadores, en el primer modelo de negocio se demuestra que, la provisión de capacidad de red es un mecanismo válido para optimizar los beneficios de los operadores. Así como, en el segundo modelo de negocio, se demuestra que, la compartición de infraestructura entre un MNO y un MVNO es deseable desde el punto de vista de los usuarios para el modelo de negocio estratégico, ya que permite un mayor número de usuarios. Mientras que, desde el punto de vista económico el modelo de negocio monopólico es más deseable debido a que ofrece un incentivo mayor a los operadores. En resumen, en esta tesis se demuestra la viabilidad económica de modelos de negocio de compartición de infraestructura entre MNOs y MVNOs, soportados técnicamente por las características tecnológicas de las redes móviles de ultima generación. / [EN] This thesis has been developed within the framework of the research line of Economics and Regulation of Telecommunications. In the PhD program of Telecommunications by the Universitat Politècnica de València. As part of the research process, we participated in the following research projects: Service Platform for Smart Cities with Dense M2M Networks (TIN2013-47272-C2-1-R), Entrepreneurship in Heterogeneous Wireless Networks (COHWAN, TIN2010-21378-C02-02) and ATLAS-Dynamic network slicing in 5G Radio Access. A doctoral stay at the ITM Atlantique in Rennes, France, was also arranged. As a result of these activities, several scientific articles were published which support the business models for MVNOs presented in this document. In this study, business models based on the development of the technical characteristics of 4G and 5G are proposed, which facilitate the sharing of the infrastructure of MNOs. In this regard, this document analyzes the state of the art that supports the technical feasibility of models based on infrastructure sharing, which has lowered barriers to market entry and the development of new business models for MVNOs. However, the new models that infrastructure sharing allows, must be analyzed from an economic aspect to determine their viability. Specifically, the first model analyses the economic viability of an MVNO that provides the service to its user base and splits its network traffic between two MNOs, which rent their network capacity to the MVNO. The analysis of the model considers both the characteristics of the system and the economic ones. In terms of system characteristics, one MVNO provides service to end-users using the infrastructure support of two MNOs. The service provided by the MVNO is modelled through an M/M/1 queue, where each user generates packets independently following a Poisson process. The service times of the packages are distributed exponentially. In the proposed system, the most relevant quality metric is the average service time, which comprises both the waiting time and the average service time. The agreement between the MVNO and the MNOs is such that the MVNO will split the network traffic between the two MNOs and pay each MNO for the traffic served through its infrastructure. In terms of economic features, incentives are modelled through user profits and operator profits. In the second model, we analyze the economic viability of two scenarios for a business model in which, an MNO rents its network infrastructure to the MVNO, and each operator serves its user base. In the first scenario, called monopoly, the MNO serves both user bases (MNO and MVNO). In the second scenario, called strategic, the MNO serves its user base, as well as leases its infrastructure to the MVNO to serve its user base. For both scenarios, the network has been modelled by a priority queue, using a DPS discipline. In the infrastructure sharing analysis, a payment to the MNO is considered for each user that accesses the MVNO service. Finally, to determine the economic viability of different scenarios proposed for the business models, concepts of microeconomics, game theory and queuing theory are used, which have allowed us to know the equilibrium decisions made by the operators, as well as the equilibrium decisions made by the users. In this way, the effect of these decisions on the profits of all the agents in the model has been obtained, and the conditions under which these new business models are viable in 4G and 5G network environments have been identified. As a result of the analysis of the business models for the different scenarios proposed, it is observed that the association between MNOs and MVNOs through infrastructure sharing is economically viable for the proposed models. In relation to users, their behavior is substantial to determine the economic viability of the different proposed business models; therefore, it is essential to explore different utility functions that express user behavior in future studies. As for the operators, the first business model demonstrates that the provision of network capacity is a valid mechanism for optimizing operators’ profits. As well as, in the second business model, it is demonstrated that, the sharing of infrastructure between an MNO and an MVNO is desirable from the users’ point of view for the strategic business model since it allows a greater number of users. Whereas, from an economic point of view, the monopolistic business model is more desirable because it provides a greater incentive for operators. In summary, this thesis demonstrates the economic viability of business models of infrastructure sharing between MNOs and MVNOs, technically supported by the technological characteristics of the latest generation mobile networks. / Sacoto Cabrera, E. (2020). Análisis basado en teoría de juegos de modelos de negocio de operadores móviles virtuales en redes 4G y 5G [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/158595 / TESIS

In a smart city, it is vital to provide a clean and green environment by curbing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from transportation. As a recent action from many governments aiming to minimize transportation’s pollution upon the climate, new plans have been announced to ban cars with gas engines throughout the world. Therefore, it is anticipated that the presence of electric vehicles (EVs) will grow very fast globally. Consequently, the necessity to establish electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) in the smart city through public charging stations is growing incrementally year by year. However, the EV charging process via EVSE which is primarily connected to the power grid will put high pressure upon the centralized power grid, especially during peak demand periods. Increasing the power production of power grid will increase the environmental impact. Therefore, it is fundamental for the smart city to be equipped with a modern power grid to cope with the traditional power grid’s drawbacks. In this thesis, we conduct an in-depth analysis of the problem of EVs’ interaction with the modern power grid in a smart city to manage and control EV charging and discharging processes. We also present various approaches and mechanisms toward identifying and investigating these challenges and requirements to manage the power demand. We propose novel solutions, namely Decentralized-EVSE (D-EVSE), for EVs’ charging and discharging processes based on Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) and an energy storage system. We present two algorithms to manage the interaction between EVs and D-EVSE while maximizing EV drivers’ satisfaction in terms of reducing the waiting time for charging or discharging services and minimizing the stress placed on D-EVSE. We propose an optimization model based on Game Theory (GT) to manage the interaction between EVs and D-EVSE. We name this the decentralized-GT (D-GT) model. This model aims to find the optimal solution for EVs and D-EVSE based on the concept of win-win. We design a decentralized profit maximization algorithm to help D-EVSE take profit from the electricity price variation during the day when selling or buying electricity respectively to EVs or from the grid or EVs as discharging processes. We implement different scenarios to these models and show through analytical and simulation results that our proposed models help to minimize the D-EVSE stress level, increase the D-EVSE sustainability, maximize the D-EVSE profit, as well as maximize EV drivers’ satisfaction and reduce EVs’ waiting time.